Cabinet approves Upgradation of the Khagaria-Purnea Section of NH-31 and NH-231 to the 4-Lane Standard (143. 529 kms) at a cost of Rs.3936.05 crore in Bihar on BOT (Toll) Mode

**Executive Summary** The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, approved the 4-laning of the 143.529 km Khagaria-Purnea section of NH-31 and NH-231 in Bihar. Estimated at a cost of Rs. 3,936.05 crore, the project will be executed via the BOT (Toll) mode and includes a 6.729 km Greenfield Bypass for Purnea City. The initiative aims to reduce travel time to approximately two hours while generating over 73 lakh total person-days of employment. **Key Points / Main Content** **Project Scope and Infrastructure** * Upgradation of 143.529 km of the Khagaria-Purnea section to a 4-lane standard. * Development of a new 6.729 km Greenfield Bypass to divert traffic from Purnea City. * Rectification of severe geometric deficiencies and sharp curves to alleviate congestion in built-up areas. **Financial and Operational Details** * Total project cost: Rs. 3,936.05 crore. * Civil construction cost: Rs. 2,467.77 crore. * Land acquisition cost: Rs. 290.16 crore. * Implementation Model: Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Toll mode. **Connectivity and Multi-modal Integration** * Seamless connection of Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnia districts. * Integration with five PM Gati-Shakti Economic Nodes, including one Textile Cluster, two Mega Food Parks, and two Fishing Seafood Parks. * Connectivity to 11 Logistic Nodes, including Purnea Airport, four major railway stations, four National Highways, and two State Highways. **Socio-Economic Impacts** * Expected increase in average travel speeds and a reduction in travel time. * Improvement in road safety, fuel efficiency, and vehicle operating costs. * Employment generation estimated at 32.59 lakh direct person-days and 40.55 lakh indirect person-days. **Impact Analysis** **Commuters and Local Residents** **Impact** Residents in Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnia will experience reduced congestion, faster travel times, and improved safety. **Action Required** Commuters will need to utilize the new Greenfield Bypass for city-avoidance and pay applicable tolls as per the BOT model. **Logistics and Industrial Stakeholders** **Impact** Enhanced multi-modal integration facilitates faster movement of goods between economic nodes (food parks, textile clusters) and transport hubs like Purnea Airport and major railway stations. **Action Required** Logistics providers should align their transport schedules to leverage reduced travel times and enhanced regional connectivity. **Project Developers and Contractors** **Impact** The project provides a significant construction and operational opportunity with a total capital outlay of Rs. 3,936.05 crore. **Action Required** Developers must execute the upgradation to 4-lane standards and manage the subsequent tolling operations under the BOT framework.

Key Entities Referenced