Patna: The Bihar government has proposed a Rs 35,000 crore plan to connect major expressways with key religious, tourism and urban centers, including Dobhi, Rajgir and Bodh Gaya.
According to the proposal sent to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, new road links and spur roads could provide direct connectivity between major expressway corridors and prominent destinations in the state.
The proposed projects have a combined length of around 610km, of which about 170km would fall within Bihar.
Proposed Links To Religious And Tourism Centers
Under the proposal, the Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway would be connected with Dobhi in Gaya and Rajgir in Nalanda district.
The state government has also proposed connecting Bodh Gaya and Rajgir with the Amas-Darbhanga Expressway through spur roads to be developed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The proposed links are expected to improve access to major religious and tourist destinations and strengthen Bihar’s connectivity with neighboring states.
Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway Alignment
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway is planned to pass through four Bihar districts — Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad and Gaya.
The corridor will connect Uttar Pradesh with Jharkhand and West Bengal through Bihar.
The Bihar government has also proposed changes to the existing alignment in the Sasaram region, including a tunnel through the hilly area. According to the proposal, the revised route could reduce the expressway distance by about 15km.
Bodh Gaya And Rajgir Connectivity
The proposed links would also connect Bodh Gaya and Rajgir with the Amas-Darbhanga Expressway, which is approximately 198km long and runs from Amas in Gaya district to Darbhanga.
The project is estimated to involve an investment of around Rs 5,000 crore.
The proposed spur roads would provide additional access to Bodh Gaya and Rajgir from the expressway network.
Expected Impact On Tourism And Local Economy
The government expects the improved road network to make travel easier for visitors and pilgrims travelling to Gaya, Bodh Gaya and Rajgir from
Bihar as well as neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Gaya and Bodh Gaya attract visitors and pilgrims from India and abroad, while Rajgir is among Bihar’s prominent tourism destinations.
Better road connectivity could also support local businesses, tourism and employment, although the proposed projects would depend on further consideration and approval by the central government.
