New Delhi, June 03: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the upgradation of the Khagaria-Purnea section of National Highways 31 and 231 in Bihar into a four-lane corridor at an investment of ₹3,936.05 crore.
The 143.53-km project will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll model and is aimed at improving transportation efficiency, enhancing road safety and supporting economic growth across eastern Bihar.
According to the government, the project will address existing geometric deficiencies, sharp curves and traffic congestion along the route passing through the districts of Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia.
A key component of the project is the construction of a 6.73-km greenfield bypass around Purnea city, which is expected to decongest urban traffic and facilitate smoother movement of long-distance passenger and freight vehicles.
Once completed, the upgraded corridor is expected to reduce travel time on the route to nearly two hours while improving fuel efficiency and lowering vehicle operating costs.
The highway forms a crucial segment of the Patna-Purnea corridor and is expected to strengthen connectivity between major economic centres, transport hubs and industrial clusters across the state.
The project is aligned with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and will provide connectivity to five economic nodes, including one textile cluster, two mega food parks and two fishing and seafood parks.
In addition, the corridor will link 11 logistics nodes comprising four major railway stations, one airport, four national highways and two state highways, supporting faster movement of goods and passengers.
The upgraded route will connect key transport corridors including NH-27, NH-13, NH-131A and NH-231, along with State Highways 95 and 77, creating a stronger regional transport network.
Major urban centres expected to benefit from the project include Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Purnia, along with associated railway stations and the airport at Purnea.
The government said the project is also expected to generate significant employment opportunities during construction and related activities, creating an estimated 32.59 lakh person-days of direct employment and 40.55 lakh person-days of indirect employment.
Officials noted that the improved highway infrastructure will boost trade, logistics efficiency, agricultural supply chains and regional economic development while contributing to lower transportation costs and enhanced connectivity across Bihar.
