Eastern India’s Fastest Road Revolution: Bihar’s Expressways Redefining Growth

Ql. Minister, Bihar’s expressway ambitions have been talked about a lot. Which are the major expressway corridors underway or being planned, and what makes them transformative?

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Al. Bihar is moving into anew league. Some of the key expressway and road rscorridor projects include:

The Buxar-Bhagalpur Expressway route has been finalized. While originally conceived as a greenfield project, much of it will use/upgrade existing roads between Buxar, Patna, Mokama, and Bhagalpur.

The Patna-Purnia Expressway (gy 245 km) which will pass through several districts like Vaishai, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, and Purnia. It involves many bridges, interchanges, and aims to shrink travel times significantly.

Other important corridors: Patna-Arrah-Sasaram greenfield/brownfield highway, approved by CCEA under HAM model atapprox. Rs3,712.40 crore.

The Raxaul-Haldia Expressway isalso in the pipeline, with DPR approved and alignment work proceeding. This would connect Bihar to eastern ports and enhance trade.

Each of these expressways is transformative because they don't just shorten distances. They improve connectivity to ports, enable smoother intrastate travel, integrate remote areas, reduce transit time and cost, and open up new economic zones.

Q2. You’ve emphasized the HAM model (Hybrid Annuity Model). How is it being adopted in Bihar, and what areits advantages and challenges?