Chirag Gupta
Patna: The Bihar government has received approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to upgrade the Mokama-Munger section of NH-80 to a four-lane road on a greenfield alignment, a move expected to significantly enhance connectivity across the state. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha stated that these projects will play a crucial role in the goal of reducing travel time, enabling people to reach Patna within five hours from any part of Bihar.
Work is currently underway on the four-lane Buxar-Mirzachowki road, with the Buxar-Parev section already completed. Ongoing construction includes an elevated road from Parev to Danapur, which will connect to the Patna Ring Road and facilitate smooth travel to Bakhtiyarpur. Two Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) in Bakhtiyarpur are also set for completion by December 2024, further enhancing the region’s road infrastructure and ensuring uninterrupted four-lane connectivity to Mokama. Additionally, a six-lane bridge parallel to the Rajendra Setu in Mokama, slated for completion in January 2025, will provide improved access to North Bihar.
The Mirzachowki-Munger four-lane road, which will feature a 10-meter-wide concrete road along the existing NH-80 and a greenfield alignment, is expected to be completed by June 2025. The approved alignment also includes spurs connecting Barhiya and Ashok Dham. The estimated cost of the project is ₹5013 crore, with the central government allocating ₹4000 crore for the current fiscal year.
These infrastructure projects will create a continuous four-lane road along Bihar’s southern Ganges region, improving east-west connectivity. They will link Patna with the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand, as well as Malda and Farakka in West Bengal. The enhanced connectivity will also make travel to New Delhi easier via the Purvanchal Expressway. The greenfield roads are expected to stimulate economic growth by creating a new business corridor, reducing logistics costs, and facilitating trade across the region.
The state government is set to begin land acquisition for these projects and aims to invite tenders for civil works by the end of the financial year. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha expressed his gratitude to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari for the approval and assured full cooperation for the projects’ timely completion.
