Patna: The Bihar government has accelerated the land acquisition process for the proposed Raxaul-Haldia Greenfield Expressway in Banka district, marking a key step in one of the state’s largest road infrastructure projects. Around 75 km of the proposed expressway will pass through Banka, requiring land acquisition across 58 revenue villages in five blocks.
According to district officials, verification of land records has already begun in several villages, with further acquisition procedures to follow after the completion of the legal formalities.
Land Verification Underway in First Phase
The District Land Acquisition Office said 3A notifications have been received for 29 revenue villages in Shambhuganj, Amarpur and Banka blocks.
Officials have started verifying land records, including ownership details, plot numbers and land measurements. Once the verification process is completed, the administration will proceed with compensation assessment, disposal of objections and other statutory procedures.
Reports Awaited for Remaining Villages
The administration is still awaiting 3A notifications for another 29 revenue villages in Phulidumar and Katoria blocks.
Officials said the land acquisition process in these villages will begin as soon as the required notifications are received.
Route Through Banka
According to the proposed alignment, the expressway will enter Banka through Shambhuganj, pass through Phulidumar, Amarpur and Banka, and exit via Katoria into Jharkhand before continuing towards Haldia in West Bengal.
The corridor is expected to strengthen road connectivity between Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, while providing a faster route for passenger and freight traffic.
Why the Project Matters
Officials said the expressway is expected to reduce travel time and improve logistics between north Bihar and eastern India’s industrial and port regions.
Experts believe the project could benefit farmers, traders and industries by lowering transportation costs and enabling faster movement of agricultural produce and commercial goods to larger markets.
The improved connectivity is also expected to encourage investment in warehousing, logistics and other commercial activities along the corridor.
Employment Opportunities
The project is expected to generate employment during both the construction and operational phases.
Road construction, transport services and associated infrastructure such as fuel stations, warehouses, hotels and logistics hubs are likely to create direct and indirect job opportunities for local residents.
Bihar to Have the Largest Stretch
The proposed Raxaul-Haldia Greenfield Expressway is around 600 km long, with approximately 406 km planned in Bihar, making it the state’s largest share of the corridor.
The remaining stretch is expected to pass through Jharkhand and West Bengal, linking Raxaul near the India-Nepal border with the port city of Haldia.
What Officials Said
District Land Acquisition Officer Pankaj Kumar said notifications for the first phase have been received and land verification is underway.
He added that the remaining villages will be brought under the acquisition process once the pending reports are received.
