Patna: Bihar’s chief minister, Nitish Kumar, on Monday inspected construction work on the Patna–Bettiah expressway in Saran district and directed officials to speed up its completion, according to state authorities.
Kumar stopped at the Bakarpur–Manikpur stretch of road, where work on the first section of the greenfield expressway is currently underway. The project is intended to significantly improve connectivity between Patna and Bettiah, reducing travel time once completed.
During the visit, senior officials briefed the chief minister on the progress of the project. The secretary of the road construction department, Pankaj Kumar Pal, said the expressway is advancing rapidly and that the first section is targeted for completion by April 2027.
Officials said the completed corridor would allow travel between Patna and Bettiah in around three hours, substantially cutting current journey times and improving regional accessibility.
Kumar described the expressway as a major infrastructure project for Bihar, saying it would ease travel for commuters and strengthen connectivity across north Bihar. He added that the new route is expected to reduce pressure on existing roads and improve traffic flow in the region.
The expressway is also expected to directly link Vaishali, Saran, East Champaran and West Champaran districts with the state capital. Officials said this improved connectivity is likely to support economic activity and development across north Bihar, particularly in areas currently less integrated with major transport corridors.
The chief minister also emphasised the need to ensure timely completion of the project, instructing officials to avoid delays and maintain construction momentum.
Several senior officials were present during the inspection, including the chief minister’s principal secretary Deepak Kumar, Kumar Ravi, the chief minister’s officer on special duty Gopal Singh, Saran district senior superintendent of police Vineet Kumar, deputy development commissioner Laxman Tiwari, and representatives of the National Highways Authority of India.
The Patna–Bettiah expressway is among a series of infrastructure projects aimed at expanding road connectivity in Bihar, where improving transport links has been identified as a key development priority by the state government.
