Patna: The Union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Friday approved the construction of the four-lane access-controlled Patna-Ara-Sasaram corridor in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 3,712 crore. The corridor, spanning 120km from Patna to Sasaram, will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), an official from the Union ministry of road transport & highways (MoRTH) said. Currently, connectivity between Sasaram, Ara and Patna relies on existing state highways – SH-2 (Bihta-Pali-Arwal), SH-12 (Ara-Sasaram), SH-81 (Sakaddi-Nasriganj) and SH-102 (Behea-Piro-Sikarahta-Danwar Bihta) – which take three to four hours to traverse due to heavy congestion, particularly in Ara town. The new greenfield corridor, combined with the 10.6km upgrade of an existing brownfield highway, would alleviate increasing congestion and cater to the needs of densely populated areas such as Ara, Garhani, Piro, Bikramganj, Mokar and Sasaram, the official said. “The project alignment integrates with major transport corridors, including NH-19, NH-319, NH-922, NH-131G and NH-120, ensuring seamless connectivity to Aurangabad, Kaimur and Patna. It will also enhance access to two airports (Patna’s Jaya Prakash Narayan International Airport and the upcoming Bihta airport), four major railway stations (Sasaram, Ara Junction, Danapur and Patna) and one Inland Water Terminal in Patna. It will also provide direct access to the Patna Ring Road, facilitating faster movement of goods and passengers,” he said. Upon completion, the corridor will play a pivotal role in regional economic growth, improving connectivity between Patna, Ranchi and Varanasi. The official added, “The project aligns with the govt’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, strengthening infrastructure while generating employment and fostering socio-economic development in Bihar.” “The project will also generate 48 lakh man-days of employment and open new avenues for growth, development and prosperity in and around Patna,” he said.
