The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the upgradation of the Khagaria–Purnea section of National Highways 31 and 231 in Bihar to a 4-lane standard at an estimated cost of ₹3,936.05 crore. The project will be executed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll model and aims to improve regional connectivity, road safety, and logistics efficiency in the state.
The 143.529-km corridor passes through key districts including Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnia. It currently suffers from sharp curves, congestion in built-up areas, and geometric deficiencies that slow down traffic movement. The project also includes the development of a 6.729-km Greenfield bypass for Purnea city, designed to ease urban congestion and streamline long-distance traffic flow.
According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the upgraded highway is expected to significantly improve average travel speeds and reduce travel time to about two hours along the corridor. It will also enhance fuel efficiency and reduce vehicle operating costs, contributing to better mobility and economic efficiency in the region.
The project is designed to strengthen multi-modal connectivity by linking five PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, including one textile cluster, two mega food parks, and two fishing seafood parks. It will also connect 11 logistics nodes comprising four major railway stations—Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnia—along with Purnea Airport, four national highways (NH-27, NH-13, NH-131A, and NH-231), and two state highways (SH-95 and SH-77), enabling smoother movement of goods and passengers across Bihar and supporting broader socio-economic development.
