NHAI unveils ₹1,900-cr Patna-Bettiah road widening

The National Highway Authority of India has notified Patna-Bettiah road as National Highway 139-W and has planned to construct a high-quality four-lane road between the two towns at an investment of ₹1,900 crore. This would reduce the distance to 167 km from the current 200-km. In addition, the road-building agency is also building a four-lane bridge over the river Ganga, parallel to JP Setu, which would also ease traffic load on the proposed outer ring road in the state capital.

The road construction department (RCD) has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed bridge. Additional Chief Secretary (RCD) Amrit Lal Meena informed that the distance between the state capital and the ecologically rich town of Bettiah would be reduced to just two-and-a-half hours. The proposed road would boost tourist inflow to the West Champaran, where Valmiki Nagar Tiger Reserve is being developed as a hub of ecotourism. State RCD minister Nitin Nabin, informed that for strengthening the road network in the state, DMs and officials concerned had been directed to expedite the land acquisition process so that the NHAI could launch the groundwork at the earliest. More than 60% of the land required for strengthening the road has already been acquired for the purpose.