Cabinet approves construction of two infra projects worth Rs 6,014 crore in Bihar

PM Modi

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on Wednesday approved construction of two infrastructure projects in Bihar, worth Rs 6,014 crore, said official releases.

The CCEA, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of 4-lane 'Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah' section of the NH-139W in Bihar on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with a total project length of 78.942 km and total capital cost of Rs 3,822.31 crore.

It also approved the doubling of 'Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya' single railway line section (104 km) in Bihar with total cost of about Rs 2,192 crore. These announcements came ahead of the upcoming Bihar Assembly Elections that are likely to be held in November.

According to an official release, the proposed four-lane greenfield project is to improve connectivity between the 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 release said.

The project will connect seven PM Gati Shakti economic Nodes, six Social Nodes, eight Logistic Nodes, nine Major Tourism and Religious Centers 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 release said.

Moreover, 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, it said.

Meanwhile, the doubling of Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya single railway line section will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 104 Kms, another release said.

Project section also provides rail connectivity to prominent destinations such as Rajgir (Shanti Stupa), Nalanda, Pawapuri etc. attracting pilgrims and tourists from across the country.

Multi-tracking projects will enhance connectivity to 1,434 villages and about 13.46 lakh population and two Aspirational Districts (Gaya and Nawada). "This 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 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum)," the second release said.