The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved the upgradation of the Khagaria-Purnea section of NH-31 and NH-231 to a four-lane highway in Bihar at a cost of ₹3,936.05 crore. This infrastructure project aims to address longstanding transportation challenges for agricultural produce, particularly perishable crops like bananas from Khagaria and makhana from Purnea, where reduced transit time is critical for minimizing spoilage and improving market realizations for farmers.
The project will significantly reduce travel times between key destinations, cutting journey durations from the current 3.5-4 hours to approximately 1.5-2 hours once operational. The highway upgrade incorporates engineering interventions to enhance flood resilience in the region, which is particularly vulnerable to seasonal flooding from the Kosi and Ganga river systems. These improvements include enhanced road geometry, strengthened pavement structures, and modern drainage systems to ensure reliable year-round transportation.
The upgraded corridor will strengthen connectivity across Bihar's Seemanchal region, linking Khagaria, Bhagalpur, Katihar, and Purnea with Patna, West Bengal, and Jharkhand. It will connect five PM Gati Shakti Economic Nodes, including one textile cluster, two mega food parks, and two fishing and seafood parks, along with 11 logistics nodes comprising four major railway stations, one airport, four National Highways, and two State Highways, significantly enhancing multimodal integration across the region.