Patna, June 3 (IANS) In a major boost to Bihar’s infrastructure development, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the widening and upgradation of the Khagaria–Purnea section of National Highways 31 and 231 into a four-lane corridor.

The project, spanning around 143.5 km, will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs 3,936.05 crore under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT-Toll) model.

The project involves upgrading the existing highway stretch from Khagaria to Purnea, passing through key districts, including Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnea.

The approved plan also includes a 6.7-km greenfield bypass around Purnea city to ease congestion and improve traffic flow.

According to the Centre, the project is intended to address traffic congestion, geometric deficiencies, and sharp curves along the existing route while improving travel efficiency and road safety.

Reacting to the approval, Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary described the project as a historic step for Bihar’s development. He thanked PM Modi for approving the project.

He said the project would significantly improve connectivity across the Kosi and Seemanchal regions and provide better transportation facilities to residents.

The Chief Minister noted that increasing traffic pressure on the corridor has created challenges for commuters, which the four-lane expansion is expected to address.

The state government believes the upgraded corridor will strengthen regional economic activity by facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers.

Improved road connectivity is expected to benefit agricultural transportation and market access, trade and logistics operations, industrial growth and investment, tourism in eastern Bihar, and inter-district connectivity across the Kosi and Seemanchal regions.

Officials also expect substantial direct and indirect employment generation during the construction phase, followed by additional opportunities in transportation, trade, and service sectors after completion.

The Khagaria–Purnea project was among several highway projects approved by the CCEA on Wednesday, with national highway investments worth nearly Rs 19,834 crore cleared across multiple states.

The project will be implemented on a BOT (Toll) basis, with a concession period of 25 years, including the construction and operation phases.

The highway serves as one of the most important transport corridors in eastern Bihar, linking the Kosi and Seemanchal regions with the rest of the state.

Once completed, the four-lane corridor is expected to reduce travel time, improve road safety, enhance freight movement, and support long-term socio-economic development in the region.

–IANS

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