The Bihar government, in collaboration with the central government, is undertaking a significant transformation of the state’s road infrastructure, promising to drastically cut travel times to the capital city, Patna. The overarching goal is to significantly reduce the duration of journeys across Bihar. The previous travel time to Patna from any point in Bihar was approximately six hours. The new projections anticipate a reduction to just three and a half hours.
This ambitious plan involves substantial investment in the development of new roads. The project’s intention is to establish a vast, modern road network by the year 2027, designed to benefit not only Bihar but also neighboring states by improving connectivity and reducing travel times. The substantial financial backing for these road projects is a result of the collaborative efforts between the Bihar government and the central government.
**Green Highway Corridor**
A sum of Rs 1,18,849.40 crore has been dedicated to road development, funded by both the state and central governments. This significant investment will not only improve travel within Bihar but also positively affect parts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. The Green Highway Corridor, which is being constructed between Patna and Purnia, has been allocated Rs 28,415 crore.
**Haldia-Raxaul Expressway**
The Haldia-Raxaul Expressway, which will span 245 kilometers, is set to reduce travel time between Patna and Purnia to just 3 hours. This 407-kilometer greenfield expressway will connect Raxaul in Bihar to the Haldia port in West Bengal. It will pass through Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana. Current travel time for this journey is around 6 hours.
**Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway**
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway, a greenfield undertaking, will extend approximately 610 kilometers across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The portion within Bihar will be 177.3 kilometers long and is estimated to cost Rs 11,206.4 crore.
**Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway**
The Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway, another project under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, is a greenfield initiative designed to link Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh with Siliguri in West Bengal. This will facilitate improved connectivity across the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal. The segment within Bihar will cover 417 kilometers and is estimated to cost Rs 29,724 crore.
**Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway**
The Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, a six-lane project spanning 380 kilometers with an estimated cost of Rs 22,800 crore, is another major component of the plan and is scheduled to be completed by 2027.