Patna : The Danapur-Bihta elevated road is expected to be completed by 2025. According to the government, this 21 km long road will be ready in 30 months. A tunnel about 600 meters long will also be built after the toll plaza to be built near Kanhauli to go from Patna to Bihta Airport. NHAI has given an estimated cost of about Rs 3737.51 crore. The tender process will be completed by 29 August 2022. The selection of the construction agency will be completed by September 2022. The construction work is likely to start in October 2022 i.e. after the monsoon.
Work on Danapur-Bihta elevated road after monsoon
Actually, the Danapur-Bihta elevated road project is part of the Patna-Buxar road project. Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen informed that a 21 km long 4-lane elevated road will be built between Danapur-Bihta. The bidding process for the construction work will end by August 29. It is likely to start soon after that. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had started the bidding process last month. This road is to be built in 30 months for Rs 3737.51 crore. Nitin Naveen said that NHAI had started the bidding process in July and interested companies can submit tenders till August 29. After this, the contractor will be given a mobilization period, then the construction work will start.
600 meter tunnel on Danapur-Bihta elevated road
Under the project, in addition to the elevated road, a four-kilometre long four-lane road from Bihta to Koilvar will be constructed. Claimed to be the longest elevated road in eastern India. There will also be a 600 meter tunnel for the entry of vehicles in the proposed civil enclave at Bihta airbase. There will be four bypasses (Neuraganj, Penal, Kanholi and Bisunpura) between Shivala and Bihta on the elevated road.
Road will start near DRM office of Danapur
This road will start near the DRM office of Danapur and end at Koilvar. For convenience in this project, ramps will be arranged at four places. The first ramp will be at Danapur, the second at Shivala Mor, the third at Bihta Airport Link and the fourth at Bihta-Sarmera Bypass. The project will also involve the construction of an underpass between Bihta and Koilvar along with four smaller bridges. The Center had in October 2019 decided to bear the construction cost, while the state government was to acquire the land. Minister Nitin Naveen said that the state government is already finalizing the land acquisition process. So there will be no delay in starting the construction work. There were some initial delays due to transfer of railway land near Danapur DRM office and change in layout of elevated road near Danapur station. However, the issue was resolved in February. In lieu of the land being acquired near Danapur DRM office at Hardinge Park near Patna Junction, land is being provided to the Railways elsewhere.
Intended to connect elevated road with Purvanchal Expressway
Bihar’s road construction minister said that the Bihta-Sarmera road is a part of PM Narendra Modi’s special package, which he announced ahead of the 2014 general elections. This road is a part of Patna-Buxar project. The Danapur-Bihta elevated road will go from Bihta to Koilwar via a four-lane road, while another four-lane road from Koilwar to Buxar is targeted to be completed by December. The state government intends to connect the Danapur-Bihta elevated road with the Purvanchal Expressway, which will help in extension of the expressway to Bhagalpur.