Chirag Gupta
Patna: For the development of National Highways in Bihar, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a tender for five projects covering a total length of 165 km at a cost of Rs 4615 crore. Expressing happiness over this initiative of the Central Government, Deputy Chief Minister-cum-Road Construction Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha said that this tender is part of a series of projects worth over Rs 6,000 crore, complementing the package announced in the budget. He considers this a special gift to Bihar from the NDA government, led by the Prime Minister, and acknowledged the swift support from Union Minister for Road and Highways Nitin Gadkari.
Sinha elaborated that the five projects include the Manikpur-Sahebganj (NH-139W) four-lane, Sahebganj-Areraj (NH-139W) four-lane, Bahadurganj-Kishanganj four-lane (ensuring direct connectivity between NH-27 and 327E), Package-2 of Patna-Ara-Sasaram (NH-119A) four-lane, and the six-lane between Ramnagar-Kacchi Dargah (NH-119D). These projects aim to strengthen the state’s traffic system and enable access to Patna from remote areas within 5 hours.
The development of the Manikpur-Areraj and Sahebganj-Areraj four-lane roads will enhance connectivity to tourist places in the Buddhist Circuit like Vaishali and Kesaria, and make travel to Bettiah from Patna easier. The Bahadurganj-Kishanganj four-lane will provide access to Kishanganj without passing through West Bengal. The Patna-Ara-Sasaram Package-2 will include a new route from Sadisopur on Patna Ring Road to Ara, with a new bridge on the Son River. The Ramnagar-Kacchi Dargah six-lane will complete the southern part of Patna Ring Road, facilitating smooth traffic flow from Bihta without entering Patna city.
Land acquisition for these projects will be managed by NHAI with an additional expenditure of Rs 1489 crore. The tender will be executed, and construction work will commence within the next two months.
