Patna: The Bihar government is planning a 225km Greenfield Corridor from Supaul to Banka, a high-speed road project estimated to cost around Rs 8,000 crore and aimed at transforming pilgrimage and trade connectivity across the region.
The proposed route will connect Bhimnagar in Supaul to Chanan in Banka, passing through Saharsa, Madhepura, Pasraha and Sultanganj, and linking with the Sultanganj-Aguwani Ghat four-lane bridge. Officials say the corridor is being designed with the annual Shravani Mela in mind, when millions of pilgrims carry Ganga water from the Ajaibinath Temple in Sultanganj on foot to Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar.
By providing modern, high-speed road connectivity, the government hopes to make the pilgrimage safer and more accessible while easing congestion and improving crowd management during peak seasons.
The corridor is also expected to strengthen connectivity towards Nepal, particularly to the Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, enhancing cross-border religious tourism. Authorities believe the route will encourage regional trade and facilitate smoother transportation between north and south Bihar.
Religious sites such as Singheshwar Sthan Temple in Madhepura are likely to benefit directly from improved infrastructure. In addition, tourist destinations in Banka district — including Odhani Dam, Chanan Dam and Hanuman Dam — could see increased visitor numbers.
Officials describe the project as part of a broader push to integrate religious tourism with infrastructure development. Beyond pilgrimage, the corridor is expected to generate employment, improve logistics networks and contribute to regional economic growth.
If implemented as planned, the Supaul–Banka Greenfield Corridor would mark one of the state’s largest recent road infrastructure investments, positioning faith-based travel at the centre of a wider development strategy.
