Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary refuted claims of alterations to the proposed Patna-Purnea Expressway’s alignment, labeling them as baseless and misleading. He emphasized that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had also debunked these reports as factually incorrect and aimed at spreading misinformation. Reports alleging a shift in the expressway’s route in Samastipur district were dismissed by the state Road Construction Department.
Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary of the Bihar Road Construction Department, clarified that there have been no changes in the alignment between kilometer 48+000 and 53+000 of the expressway project. The land acquisition process is progressing as per the originally approved route alignment, with no deviations. The expressway’s route was meticulously finalized after considering socio-economic factors, technical feasibility, and standards set by the Indian Roads Congress.
Government officials highlighted that a high-level committee, including representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI, reviewed and approved the alignment. The final alignment approval was granted on January 15, 2025. The Bihar government reiterated that the Patna-Purnea Expressway, deemed a project of national significance, will be executed transparently and within the stipulated timeline. Authorities urged the public to disregard rumors and misleading information about the project.
Once operational, the Patna-Purnea Expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Patna and Seemanchal districts like Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Purnea to under five hours. This development will also facilitate easier connectivity to Siliguri and other Northeastern states.
