Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jun 4: The Union Cabinet has approved the upgradation of the Khagaria–Purnia section of National Highways 31 and 231 in Bihar into a four-lane highway at an estimated cost of Rs 3,936.05 crore.
The 143.529-km project will be executed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll model and is aimed at improving connectivity, reducing travel time and boosting economic development across the region.
According to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), the project will address major transportation challenges, including road bottlenecks, sharp curves and congestion in urban stretches passing through Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia districts. A 6.729-km bypass will also be constructed to ease traffic flow around Purnia city.
The government said the upgraded corridor will significantly enhance travel efficiency, reducing the journey time between Khagaria and Purnia to nearly two hours. The project is also expected to improve road safety, lower vehicle operating costs, enhance fuel efficiency and support regional socio-economic growth.
The highway forms a key segment of the Patna–Purnia corridor and will serve as an important transport link connecting major economic, social and logistics hubs in Bihar. It will also integrate with Corridor-5 under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, facilitating seamless movement of passengers and freight through 11 logistics centres.
The corridor will connect with NH-27, NH-13, NH-131A, NH-231 and State Highways 95 and 77, while providing improved access to the proposed Purnia Airport and major railway stations at Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia.
Officials said the project will also strengthen industrial and agricultural supply chains by improving connectivity to a textile cluster, two mega food parks and two fisheries and seafood parks in the region.
In addition to the Bihar project, the Cabinet approved the upgradation of the Hiwarkhedi–Roshni and Ashapur–Rudhi sections of NH-347B, covering a total length of 125 km, at a cost of Rs 1,791 crore.
The government also cleared the 109-km Deshgaon–Julwania highway project, estimated to cost Rs 2,624 crore.
Further, the Cabinet approved the four-laning of the Armur–Jagtial–Mancherial section of NH-63 and the Jagtial–Karimnagar section of NH-563 in Telangana to enhance road infrastructure and connectivity in the state.