On July 24, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced an allocation of Rs 26,000 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25 to enhance connectivity in Bihar. The Centre will support the development of several key road connectivity projects, including the Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway, the Patna-Purnea Expressway, spurs to Bodhgaya, Rajgir, Vaishali, and Darbhanga, as well as an additional 2-lane bridge over the Ganga River at Buxar.
Additional funds will be allocated to support capital investments. Furthermore, requests from the Bihar Government for external assistance from multilateral development banks will be expedited, according to the finance minister.
Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway
The Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway will span approximately 350 km, linking Buxar and Bhagalpur. This project aims to facilitate smoother and faster connectivity from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and neighboring regions.
Patna-Purnea Expressway
The proposed access-controlled Patna-Purnea Expressway will connect Patna and Purnea. Currently, the 300 km journey between these two cities takes about eight hours. This project is expected to significantly reduce travel time.
Purvanchal Expressway Connection to Bihar
The Purvanchal Expressway, a 343-km route in Uttar Pradesh, links Chand Sarai village in Lucknow to Haidaria in Ghazipur. The government plans to connect this expressway to Bihar through a 17-km greenfield, four-lane Buxar link.
These initiatives are poised to improve infrastructure and connectivity in Bihar, promoting regional development and economic growth.
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