Patna: Travelling between Buxar and Bhagalpur could become significantly faster with the Bihar Cabinet giving in-principle approval for a 336-kilometre, six-lane greenfield expressway connecting the two cities.
The project, estimated to cost around ₹3,700 crore, was approved in principle on August 19. Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce the road journey between Buxar and Bhagalpur from around eight hours to approximately four hours, subject to traffic conditions and the location of entry and exit points.
Six-lane expressway to connect 13 districts
The proposed access-controlled expressway will improve connectivity across a wide stretch of Bihar. Its catchment area will include Buxar, Bhojpur, Jehanabad, Arwal, Gaya, Nalanda, Sheikhpura, Munger, Lakhisarai, Nawada, Jamui, Banka and Bhagalpur.
As an access-controlled corridor, vehicles will be able to enter and exit the expressway only through designated interchanges. This is expected to reduce interruptions and improve travel efficiency for long-distance commuters.
Buxar-Bhagalpur journey expected to take four hours
At present, travelling by road between Buxar and Bhagalpur can take around eight hours. The proposed expressway is expected to bring the journey time down to roughly four hours once it becomes operational.
The actual travel time will depend on factors such as traffic conditions, entry and exit points and road conditions.
Potential link to UP and Delhi-NCR
The proposed expressway could also strengthen Bihar’s road connectivity with major expressway networks in Uttar Pradesh.
A proposal has been made to connect the Buxar-Bhagalpur corridor with the Buxar link of the Ghazipur-Ballia-Manjhighat Expressway near the Bihar-Uttar Pradesh border.
Such connectivity could provide access to major routes including the Purvanchal Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway and Yamuna Expressway. There are also plans to connect the corridor with Uttar Pradesh’s Ganga Expressway through the proposed Prayagraj-Varanasi-Ballia link corridor.
If these links materialise, the network could provide a faster route for travellers from Bihar towards Uttar Pradesh and Delhi-NCR.
Expressway to be developed under PPP model
The project will be developed under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model using the DBFOT-Toll (Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer) framework.
This means vehicles using the expressway will be required to pay toll charges once the road becomes operational.
The Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDC) will be responsible for implementing the project.
Economic hubs may emerge along corridor
The government also expects the expressway to support economic development along its route.
Land along the corridor could eventually support warehouses, logistics centres, commercial establishments and other investment activities. The proposed connectivity with greenfield townships could further encourage development around the expressway.
The corridor is expected to improve movement of goods, support businesses and create employment opportunities in the districts through which it passes.
DPR to be prepared next
With the Cabinet granting in-principle approval, the project will now move to the next stage.
A Detailed Project Report (DPR) consultant will be appointed to prepare the project plan, while a transaction advisor will be engaged to facilitate its development under the PPP framework.
Technical, financial and construction-related processes will follow before work can begin.
The expressway will take time to reach completion and become operational. However, once built, the corridor could significantly reshape long-distance road connectivity between western and eastern Bihar while reducing travel time between Buxar and Bhagalpur.
