Patna: Two new stretches of the Ganga Path expressway are set to be developed in Bihar’s Bhagalpur and Munger districts, following cabinet approval of a Rs 9,970 crore infrastructure package under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). The decision was taken at a state cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday.
The proposed expressways will enhance connectivity along the southern banks of the Ganga. The first corridor will stretch 42 km from Safiabad in Munger to Sultanganj, passing through Bariyarpur and Ghorghat, at an estimated cost of Rs 5,119.80 crore. The second corridor, spanning 40.8 km from Sultanganj to Sabour via Bhagalpur, has received an allocation of Rs 4,849.83 crore.
Both projects will be constructed under the HAM model — a form of public-private partnership introduced by the central government in 2019. Under this model, the government provides 40% of the project cost during the construction phase, while the private entity funds the remaining 60%. The developer is then reimbursed through annual annuity payments, including interest, reducing upfront financial risks and encouraging timely delivery.
In addition, the cabinet has approved Rs 1,047 crore in supplementary funding for a four-lane bridge and access road project over the Ganga, linking Bakhtiyarpur to Tajpur on National Highway 31.
