Nitish Kumar Conducts Final Inspection of Patna-Bettiah Expressway
In a significant move just before his anticipated departure from office, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday personally inspected the ongoing construction of the Patna-Bettiah Expressway. This visit underscores his commitment to enhancing Bihar's infrastructure as he prepares to step down.
Project Overview and Strategic Importance
The Patna-Bettiah Expressway, officially designated as NH-139W, is a groundbreaking 164-kilometer, four-lane greenfield initiative. It is designed to dramatically reduce travel time between Patna and West Champaran district from six hours to approximately three hours, revolutionizing connectivity in the region.
During the inspection, Nitish Kumar visited the Bakarpur-Manikpur section in Saran district, which marks the first phase of this ambitious project. Accompanied by senior officials, including Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal, the CM received detailed briefings on the progress.
Secretary Pal emphasized, "Work on this critical link between Patna and Bettiah is advancing rapidly. We have set a target to complete the first section by April 2027. Once finished, Bettiah will be easily accessible from Patna in just three hours."
CM's Vision for Economic and Regional Development
Nitish Kumar highlighted the expressway's broader impact, stating, "This is a major connectivity project for Bihar. It will simplify travel from Patna to Bettiah, saving time for commuters and alleviating congestion on alternative routes." He further noted that the expressway will directly connect Vaishali, Saran, East Champaran, and West Champaran districts to Patna, thereby accelerating economic growth in north Bihar.
Financial and Structural Details
The total project cost is estimated at Rs 5,996 crore. Recently, the Union cabinet approved the Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section, spanning 78.94 kilometers, with an allocation of Rs 3,822.31 crore. Officials anticipate the entire expressway to be fully operational by 2027-2028.
Key features of the project include:
- Enhanced access to the Buddhist Circuit, linking heritage sites such as Kesariya Buddha Stupa in Sahebganj, Vishwa Shanti Stupa in Vaishali, and Someshwarnath Mandir in Areraj.
- Construction of three major bridges over the Gandak River.
- Installation of 10 flyovers and 108 underpasses to ensure seamless, signal-free movement.
Project Segmentation and Current Status
The expressway is divided into four main packages:
- Package-1 (Bakarpur to Manikpur): 38.81 km, with construction commencing in early 2024.
- Package-2 (Manikpur to Sahebganj): 44.65 km, where a construction agency has been selected.
- Package-3 (Sahebganj to Areraj): 39.64 km, recently funded by Union cabinet approval.
- Package-4 (Areraj to Bettiah): 40.58 km, with tenders floated and bidding in process.
Officials Present at Inspection
The inspection was attended by key figures, including CM's Principal Secretary Deepak Kumar, CM's Secretary Kumar Ravi, CM's Special Officer Gopal Singh, Saran SSP Vineet Kumar, Saran Deputy Development Commissioner Lakshman Tiwari, and senior officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
