Patna: Construction of the ambitious Danapur-Bihta Elevated Road project has encountered fresh delays as unresolved land acquisition issues and slow compensation payments continue to hamper progress.
The most significant obstacle lies near Danapur Railway Station, where construction of 10 pillars remains stalled because the required land has not yet been handed over by the Railways. Officials say the delays are affecting both traffic management in the area and the overall timeline of the project.
The issue was raised by officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) during a recent meeting of the Project Monitoring Group.
Administration Asked To Support Construction
Responding to the concerns, Patna District Magistrate Dr Tyagarajan S.M. directed the Danapur Sub-Divisional Officer and the Traffic Superintendent of Police to provide all necessary administrative and security support to facilitate construction activities.
The District Land Acquisition Officer was also instructed to accelerate compensation payments to affected landowners by organising special camps for the purpose.
Officials acknowledged that the pace of compensation distribution among farmers remains slower than expected, despite substantial progress in land acquisition.
Key Infrastructure Project
The Danapur-Bihta Elevated Road is one of the region’s most significant infrastructure projects and is expected to ease congestion on the busy western corridor of Patna while improving connectivity to the upcoming Bihta airport.
The project spans 25 kilometres, of which 17 kilometres will be elevated.
According to project plans, the elevated corridor will comprise a 14.4-km stretch between Danapur and Vishnupura and a further 2.28-km elevated section between Vishwambharpur and the ESIC Hospital.
A 5.15-km ground-level road connecting Vishnupura and Vishwambharpur will provide access to Bihta Airport and will also house the project’s toll plaza.
The road is scheduled to be completed by August 2027.
Construction Progress
NHAI officials said the 17-km elevated section will be supported by 389 pillars.
So far, span-launching work has been completed along approximately four kilometres of the corridor, while work on the remaining sections is continuing.
However, officials warned that unresolved land issues could affect future construction schedules if not addressed promptly.
Rs 1,969 Crore Project
The total cost of the project is estimated at Rs 1,969.39 crore.
Of this, Rs 264.04 crore has been earmarked for land acquisition, while Rs 1,705.35 crore will be spent on construction.
A total of 104 acres of land spread across 22 revenue villages is being acquired for the project.
According to official figures, compensation amounting to Rs 194.03 crore has so far been disbursed to 972 landowners.
Authorities are now focusing on resolving the remaining land-related disputes and expediting compensation payments to prevent further delays in a project considered crucial to the region’s future transport infrastructure.
