Chirag Gupta
Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar conducted a high-level review of four major expressways and highways under construction in Bihar, focusing on their connectivity to Bodh Gaya and Rajgir. The review took place at Sankalp 1, Anne Marg.
The Chief Secretary presented a plan detailing an investment of Rs 84,734 crore for constructing 1,575 km of expressways. Out of this, 1,063 km will be in Bihar, with a total expenditure of Rs 59,173 crore. The network aims to enable travel to Patna from any corner of the state within 5 hours, with a future plan to reduce this to 4 hours in the next 5 years.
The Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway will cover 600 km across eight districts in Bihar, including West Champaran, East Champaran, and Kishanganj, with 415 km in the state. The Raxaul-Haldia Expressway, designed to connect Raxaul to the Haldia port, will be 702 km long, with 367 km in Bihar, passing through districts like East Champaran and Banka. The Patna-Purnia Greenfield Expressway will stretch 250 km from Patna to Purnia, passing through Saran, Vaishali, and other districts. Additionally, a 4-lane spur will connect Bodh Gaya and Rajgir from the Amas-Darbhanga Expressway.
The Chief Minister stated that these expressways would significantly boost traffic efficiency and reduce travel times. He noted the progress in road infrastructure since 2005, which has improved access to Patna. He emphasized the need for timely land acquisition and ensuring minimal inconvenience to the public. The review was attended by Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, MP Sanjay Kumar Jha, Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, and other senior officials.
