Patna: The route of the Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway could be changed again, with the Bihar government sending a proposal to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to construct a tunnel through the hills in Sasaram.
Officials said the proposed tunnel route could reduce the length of the expressway compared with the alignment currently planned around the hills.
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway will pass through Bihar over a stretch of around 170 kilometres and is being constructed in seven packages. Work is currently under way in five of these packages, according to officials.
Once completed, the expressway is expected to improve road connectivity between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal.
Tunnel plan was proposed earlier
A tunnel through the Sasaram hills had previously been considered as part of Package-4. However, the proposal did not progress after permission for blasting in the hills was not granted by the Forest Department.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had also raised concerns about constructing the tunnel using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM). According to officials, a TBM-based tunnel was estimated to increase the project cost by two to three times.
Following the setback, a revised design was prepared, with the expressway proposed to pass around the hills near Sasaram city.
The revised alignment was planned to connect with the GT Road through Tarachandi, but it increased the length of the expressway by around 15 kilometres.
Fresh proposal sent to Centre
The tunnel option has now been revived, with a fresh proposal sent to the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Officials said permission has also been received from the State Wildlife Board, paving the way for preparations to resume work on the tunnel alignment.
If the Centre approves the proposal, the expressway could avoid the additional distance introduced by the revised route around the Sasaram hills.
As a result, the journey between Varanasi and Kolkata could become shorter than under the currently proposed alignment.
Six-lane expressway to cross Son River
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway is planned as a six-lane road.
In Bihar, Package-5 includes a proposed bridge of around 3.5 kilometres over the Son River, along with six smaller bridges.
Once completed, the expressway is expected to provide faster road connectivity between Bihar and the neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal. The final alignment through Sasaram, however, will depend on approval of the latest tunnel proposal.
