East Champaran: A proposed alignment change is under consideration after sections of the Ram Janaki Path were found to be intersecting with the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway in Bihar’s East Champaran district. Officials say the overlap at two locations could escalate costs and delay construction unless corrective measures are introduced.
The Ram Janaki Path aims to link Ayodhya with Janakpur, a site revered as the birthplace of Goddess Sita. The proposed road will pass through Shivhar and Sitamarhi before entering Nepal. However, in parts of East Champaran — particularly in Mujia under Patahi block and Govind Bara Mouja in Phenhara — the route runs parallel to and crosses the expressway, creating planning complications.
Officials familiar with the matter said retaining the current alignment could significantly increase project expenditure and slow progress. As a result, the department has proposed altering the alignment to prevent direct clashes between the two major road corridors.
Under the revised proposal, the Ram Janaki Path will now pass through 49 moujas instead of the earlier planned 40. The highest number of affected villages fall in Kesariya, Kalyanpur and Madhuban blocks. The road is expected to enter the district from Vaishakhwa in Kesariya and traverse multiple blocks including Chakia, Phenhara and Mehsi.
Meanwhile, the Revenue and Land Reforms Department has appointed the land acquisition officer as the competent authority to speed up the process of land classification and acquisition. The Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway, which enters the district from Paharpur and passes through Harsiddhi, Turkaulia, Piprakothi, Motihari and Pakridayal before moving towards Shivhar and Sitamarhi, is also likely to see minor alignment adjustments in Phenhara and Patahi to resolve the overlap.
