By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The construction of a four-lane road from AIIMS Patna to Bettiah is set to commence soon, following the finalisation of tenders for all five packages of the Patna-Bettiah road under NH 139W. The project is expected to be completed within two years, and once finished, the travel distance between Patna and Bettiah will be reduced by approximately 100 kilometres, allowing people to cover the journey in just three hours, compared to the current 5 to 6 hours.
According to departmental officials, the four-lane Patna-Bettiah road will span 167 kilometres, starting from the AIIMS roundabout in Patna. Of this, 147.33 kilometres will consist of a Greenfield Highway, connecting to NH 727 near Bettiah via Bakarpur, Manikpur, Sahebganj, Kesaria, and Areraj, passing through the JP Setu at Digha. Several bypasses will be constructed along the route to ensure smooth traffic flow. The total cost of the project is estimated at ₹5800 crore.
A key component of this project is a six-lane bridge parallel to the JP Setu in Patna, costing ₹2221.47 crore and spanning 6.92 kilometres. Additionally, two bridges will be constructed over the Gandak River within three years. The second package, covering the 38.813 km stretch from Bakarpur to Manikpur near Sonpur, will cost ₹846.95 crore. The third package covers the Manikpur-Sahebganj section.
Vehicles on NH 139W will be able to travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h. The new highway will provide direct connectivity from Patna to Saran, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran. It will also improve access to major tourist sites in North Bihar, including Vaishali, Lauriya, and Kesaria, and enhance the connectivity of the Valmikinagar Tiger Reserve with Patna.
