The stories of long and arduous journeys in Bihar may soon be confined to history. This is the claim made by the Road Transport Department of the Bihar government and the National Highway Authority of the central government. A few years ago, Bihar’s Chief Minister Nitish Kumar asserted that reaching the capital from any corner of Bihar would take only 6 hours, but the new claim suggests this time will be reduced to just over half.
This means that instead of 6 hours, the capital Patna can now be reached in just 3.50 hours from any part of Bihar. Major road projects are underway in Bihar through joint efforts of the Bihar government and the central government. The progress suggests that the network of roads in Bihar will be significantly expanded by the year 2027, which will directly benefit not only Bihar but also neighboring states.
**Green Highway Corridor**
The Bihar government claims that Rs 1,18,849.40 crore has been allocated for road development through the efforts of the state and central governments. This will benefit not only Bihar but also parts of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. It is claimed that this will greatly speed up travel in Bihar. A Green Highway Corridor is being built between Patna and Purnia, for which Rs 28,415 crore has been allocated.
**Haldia-Raxaul Expressway**
This 245-kilometer corridor, once completed, will allow travel between Patna and Purnia in just 3 hours, compared to the current minimum time of 6 hours. The Haldia-Raxaul Expressway is a 407-kilometer upcoming access-controlled greenfield expressway. It will connect Raxaul district in Bihar to Haldia port in West Bengal. This expressway will pass through Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
This project is part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana and is estimated to cost Rs 26,704 crore. The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway passes through four states: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. This entire expressway is a greenfield project. The project will be approximately 610 kilometers long, with Bihar’s share between Varanasi and Kolkata being 177.3 kilometers. The estimated cost is Rs 11,206.4 crore.
**Improved Connectivity for Three States**
This expressway will be a six-lane road, with the potential for further expansion. The Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway is a greenfield expressway under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, which will connect Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh to Siliguri in West Bengal. It will boost connectivity between three states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal). The estimated cost for the 417 kilometers of the Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway in Bihar is Rs 29,724 crore.
The Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway will be six lanes. The 380-kilometer project will cost Rs 22,800 crore. This project is also claimed to be completed by the year 2027.