Bihar Greenlights Land Acquisition for ₹18,042 Crore Patna-Purnia Expressway.

Bihar's Revenue and Land Reforms Department has officially commenced preparations for land acquisition across six districts – Vaishali, Samastipur, Darbhanga, Saharsa, Madhepura, and Purnia – for the ambitious Patna-Purnia Greenfield Expressway project. This move follows the receipt of all necessary clearances, with a commitment to compensate landowners at market rates to ensure a smooth acquisition process and prevent potential disputes.

Deepak Kumar Singh, Additional Chief Secretary of the Revenue and Land Reforms Department, has issued directives to the District Magistrates (DMs) of all six districts. These instructions mandate proceeding with preliminary notifications after securing approval from the Central Valuation Committee. This directive stems from a recent high-level meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena, according to officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

An NHAI official confirmed that Singh's letter to the DMs emphasized conducting a revised valuation of land based on prevailing market prices in the respective areas, in accordance with Section 26(3) of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, before initiating the process. "In this context, the prohibition, excise, and registration department has been granted the authority for special revision of MVR (minimum value registered) under Sub-rule 7 of the Bihar Stamp (Amendment) Rules, 2013, in light of the notification," the official stated.

The 90-meter-wide greenfield expressway is estimated to cost ₹18,042 crore and will extend up to Chandbhatti village on Purnia-Kishanganj NH-27. The Patna-Purnia expressway will also intersect with the Amas-Darbhanga road in Vaishali and connect with the Patna Ring Road at Dighwara.

The comprehensive project includes the construction of 21 large and 140 small bridges, 11 ROBs (Rail Over Bridges), 21 interchanges, and 322 underpasses. At the request of the state government, spur roads will be constructed to connect the cities of Samastipur, Saharsa, and Madhepura to the main expressway. The designated speed limit on this route will be 120 km per hour, and the state government has appointed a competent authority specifically for land acquisition.

Furthermore, the expressway will provide crucial connectivity to Bihta Airport via a bridge between Dighwara and Sherpur, and will eventually link to Darbhanga and Purnia airports. Once completed, the Patna-Purnia expressway is projected to reduce travel time between Patna and Purnia by half, from at least seven hours to a mere three to four hours, significantly boosting connectivity and economic activity in the region.