The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved connectivity projects worth Rs around 6,000 crore for Bihar, which is set to go to elections later this year.
This includes the doubling of the Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya single railway line section (104 km) in Bihar with a total cost of approximately Rs 2,192 crore.
The project covering four districts in the state will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 104 km.
The project section will provide rail connectivity to prominent destinations such as Rajgir (Shanti Stupa), Nalanda and Pawapuri, attracting pilgrims and tourists from across the country.
The multi-tracking projects will enhance connectivity to approximately 1,434 villages and about 13.46 lakh population, and two aspirational districts (Gaya and Nawada) which is an essential route for transportation of commodities such as coal, cement, clinker, fly ash, etc.
The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 26 million tonnes per annum.
Highway Project in Bihar
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs also approved the construction of 4-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of the NH-139W in Bihar on hybrid nnnuity mode with a total project length of 78.942 km and total capital cost of Rs 3,822.31 crore.
The proposed four-lane greenfield project is to improve connectivity between state capital Patna with Bettiah, connecting the North Bihar districts of Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran and West Champaran up to the areas along the Indo-Nepal border.
The project will support the movement of long-distance freight traffic, improve access to key infrastructure and facilitate regional economic development by improving connectivity to agricultural zones, industrial areas, and cross-border trade routes.
The project will connect seven PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, six social nodes, eight logistic nodes, nine major tourism and religious centres by improving access to key heritage and Buddhist tourist sites including the Kesariya Buddha Stupa (Sahebganj), Someshwarnath Mandir (Areraj), Jain Mandir and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Vaishali), and Mahavir Temple (Patna), thereby strengthening the Buddhist circuit and international tourism potential of Bihar.
The NH-139W has been planned to provide a high-speed connectivity to alternate routes that are presently congested and geometrically deficient, and pass-through built-up areas and will serve as an important link to the NH-31, NH-722, NH-727, NH-27 and NH-227A.
The proposed greenfield alignment will support average vehicular speeds of 80 km/h against the design speed of 100 km/h. This will reduce the overall travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah, from 2.5 hours to 1 hours, compared to existing alternatives, while offering safe, fast and uninterrupted connectivity for both passenger and freight vehicles.
The proposed project with length of 78.94 km will generate close to 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment, an official release stated. The project will also induce additional employment opportunities due to increase in economic activity in the vicinity of the proposed corridor, it added.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
Railtel Bags Rs 106-Crore Order For Smart Classroom Installation From Bihar Education Project Council
Sep 17, 2025
Bihar Elections 2025: Centre Approves Infra Projects Worth Rs 7,616 Crore Ahead of Polls
Sep 11, 2025
RailTel Shares In Focus After Winning Orders Worth Rs 714 Crore
Sep 08, 2025
Asia Cup 2025: India Beat Japan 3-2 For Second Straight Win
Aug 31, 2025
POPULAR