Patna: Bihar is poised for a major expansion of its transport infrastructure, with two highway projects and a mega bridge, together valued at nearly Rs 10,000 crore, sent to the Union Cabinet for final approval.
All three projects have already received clearance from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, officials said, and construction is expected to gather pace once the cabinet gives its formal approval.
The most ambitious of the proposals is a 12km-long bridge over the Gandak river, to be known as the Patjirwa Bridge. The structure will link Manuapul in Bihar’s Bettiah district with Tiwari Patti Sevarhi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, creating direct road connectivity between the two states. Officials estimate that the bridge will reduce the distance between Bettiah and parts of Uttar Pradesh by about 35km and rank among the longest bridges in the country. Land acquisition for the project has already begun following ministerial clearance.
The second project involves widening the 143km Purnea–Khagaria road into a four-lane highway at an estimated cost of Rs 3,975 crore. Once completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to ease congestion in north Bihar and cut travel time between Khagaria and the state capital, Patna.
The third proposal seeks to four-lane the 144km Muzaffarpur–Sitamarhi–Sonbarsa road, which currently operates as a two-lane highway. Costing around Rs 2,400 crore, the project is expected to significantly improve access to the India–Nepal border, reducing travel time for cross-border commuters by as much as two hours.
State officials said the combined impact of the three projects would extend beyond smoother roads. Improved connectivity is expected to spur trade, tourism and regional development across north and central Bihar, while strengthening links with neighbouring Uttar Pradesh and Nepal.
