New Delhi, Aug 19: The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹3,591-crore four-lane highway project connecting Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi and Sonbarsa in Bihar, along with four railway line projects involving an investment of around ₹13,041 crore, in a major push to strengthen connectivity and infrastructure.
The four-lane highway between Muzaffarpur and Sonbarsa is expected to reduce travel time on the route from around two hours to one hour. The project is targeted for completion within 30 months and will strengthen connectivity towards the Nepal border.
The improved road link is expected to facilitate smoother movement of people and goods, boost local trade and economic activity and create employment opportunities in the region.
Alongside the Bihar highway project, the Cabinet has approved four railway projects aimed at enhancing capacity on key corridors in eastern and southern India.
The fourth-line project between Kharagpur and Bhadrak has been approved at a cost of ₹3,352 crore. The 173-km project is expected to be completed within four years and will strengthen connectivity between Balasore and Paradip Port.
A fourth railway line between Bhadrak and Haridaspur, covering 75 km, has also been cleared at a cost of ₹1,583 crore. The project is expected to improve connectivity with the Mahanadi Coalfields and other important resource centres.
The Cabinet also approved the third and fourth line project between Gummidipundi and Gudur at an estimated cost of ₹2,229 crore, while the third and fourth line project between Cuttack and Paradip was cleared at ₹2,286 crore.
Together, the four railway projects are expected to increase line capacity and ease congestion on important railway corridors, strengthening freight and passenger movement across eastern and southern India.
The infrastructure push comes at a time when improved road and rail connectivity is being viewed as crucial to Bihar’s economic expansion. The Muzaffarpur-Sonbarsa highway, in particular, is expected to provide a faster link towards the Nepal border while opening up greater opportunities for trade and employment.
With the highway project and multiple railway capacity-enhancement initiatives receiving approval, the latest decisions are expected to provide a significant boost to Bihar’s connectivity and the wider eastern Indian economy.
