The Bihar government, in conjunction with the central government’s National Highway Authority, is promising a significant reduction in travel times across the state. They are aiming to make journeys across Bihar significantly shorter. Where once a trip from any point in Bihar to the capital of Patna could take up to six hours, the estimated time is now being reduced to just three and a half hours.
This ambitious project involves large-scale road construction, with the goal of expanding the road network substantially by 2027. This will benefit not only Bihar but also neighboring states, offering improved connectivity and reduced travel times. The combined efforts of the Bihar government and the central government have earmarked significant funds for these road projects.
**Green Highway Corridor**
A substantial Rs 1,18,849.40 crore has been allocated by the state and central governments towards road development, which will improve connectivity within Bihar and also benefit areas of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. One key project is the Green Highway Corridor between Patna and Purnia, with an allocation of Rs 28,415 crore, designed to significantly improve travel times.
**Haldia-Raxaul Expressway**
The 245-kilometer Haldia-Raxaul Expressway is expected to reduce travel time between Patna and Purnia to just 3 hours. This 407-kilometer greenfield expressway will link Raxaul, Bihar, with the Haldia port in West Bengal. It will traverse Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, with an estimated cost of Rs 26,704 crore. The existing travel time for this distance is currently approximately 6 hours.
**Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway**
The Varanasi-Kolkata Expressway, a greenfield project, will span approximately 610 kilometers across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Bihar will have 177.3 kilometers of this expressway, with an estimated cost of Rs 11,206.4 crore.
**Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway**
The Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway, also part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, is a greenfield project aimed at connecting Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh with Siliguri in West Bengal, enhancing connectivity between these three states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal). The portion of the expressway in Bihar (417 kilometers) is expected to cost Rs 29,724 crore.
**Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway**
Another major project is the six-lane Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, which will span 380 kilometers and is estimated to cost Rs 22,800 crore. Both the Gorakhpur-Siliguri and Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressways are targeted for completion by 2027, promising to further reduce travel times.