Patna-Arrah-Sasaram corridor to improve Bihar connectivity

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the ₹3,712.40 crore Patna-Arrah-Sasaram corridor, which will improve regional connectivity and economic growth in Bihar.

The construction of a 4-lane access-controlled greenfield and brownfield Patna-Arrah-Sasaram corridor, which will run 120.10 kilometres from Patna to Sasaram in Bihar, has been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which is chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The project will be developed using the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with a total capital cost of ₹ 3,712.40 crore.

Currently, connectivity between Sasaram, Arrah, and Patna is dependent on existing state highways (SH-2, SH-12, SH-81, and SH-102) and takes 3-4 hours due to heavy traffic, including in Arrah town. A greenfield corridor as well as a 10.6-kilometre upgrade of an existing brownfield highway will be built to alleviate traffic congestion in densely populated areas such as Arrah, Grahini, Piro, Bikramganj, Mokar, and Sasaram.

The project alignment connects with major transportation corridors such as NH-19, NH-319, NH-922, NH-131G, and NH-120, providing seamless connectivity to Aurangabad, Kaimur, and Patna. The project will also connect two airports (Patna’s Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport and the upcoming Bihita Airport), four major railway stations (Sasaram, Arrah, Danapur, and Patna), and one inland water terminal (Patna), as well as improve direct access to the Patna Ring Road, allowing for faster movement of goods and passengers. When completed, the Patna-Arrah-Sasaram Corridor will play a critical role in regional economic growth by improving connectivity between Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, and Varanasi. The project is in line with the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, which aims to improve infrastructure while also creating jobs and promoting socioeconomic development in Bihar. The project will also create 48 lakh man-days of employment and open up new opportunities for growth, development, and prosperity in the Patna region and surrounding areas.