Patna-Purnea Expressway route unchanged, says Bihar Dy CM Vijay Kumar Choudhary
Synopsis
Bihar’s Deputy CM and NHAI have both pushed back against reports of a route change on the Patna-Purnea Expressway, calling the claims fabricated. With land acquisition under way and a 3A notification already issued, the government is drawing a hard line — the alignment locked in on 15 January 2025 is final, and the project remains on track to cut Patna-to-Seemanchal travel time to under five hours.
Key Takeaways
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary called reports of a route change “completely baseless” and “misleading” on Tuesday, 16 June .
NHAI described the reports as “factually incorrect” and allegedly intended to spread misinformation.
Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal confirmed no deviation in alignment between km 48+000 and 53+000 .
The alignment received final approval on 15 January 2025 from a high-level committee including the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and NHAI.
The 3A notification issued on 6 March 2026 is based on the same original alignment.
Once complete, the expressway will connect Patna to Purnea and Seemanchal districts in under five hours .
Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Tuesday firmly rejected media reports claiming that the alignment of the proposed Patna-Purnea Expressway had been altered, describing such claims as “completely baseless” and “misleading.” The denial came after certain media and digital platforms, including a national newspaper, alleged that the route alignment in Samastipur district had been changed.
What the Government Said
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) also weighed in, asserting that the reports were “factually incorrect” and allegedly designed to spread misinformation. Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary of the Bihar Road Construction Department, stated categorically that there has been no deviation or alteration in the alignment between kilometre 48+000 and 53+000 of the expressway project. He added that the ongoing land acquisition process is proceeding strictly in accordance with the originally approved route.
How the Alignment Was Finalised
According to the department, the expressway route was determined after a thorough evaluation of socio-economic factors, technical feasibility, and standards set by the Indian Roads Congress. The alignment was reviewed and approved by a high-level committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, and other technical and expert agencies. Final approval for the alignment was granted on 15 January 2025.
Allegations of Undue Influence Denied
Officials also dismissed allegations, circulating in some reports, that the alignment was modified under pressure from influential individuals. Authorities clarified that the 3A notification issued on 6 March 2026 was likewise based on the same original alignment that had received prior approval. The Bihar government reiterated that the project will be implemented transparently and within the prescribed timeline, urging the public not to give credence to rumours.
What the Expressway Will Mean for Bihar
Once complete, the Patna-Purnea Expressway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Patna and the Seemanchal districts of Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Purnea to under five hours. The corridor will also ease connectivity to Siliguri and the northeastern states, making it a project of considerable regional and national importance.
Point of View
Multi-agency rebuttal — involving both the state Road Construction Department and NHAI — signals how politically sensitive infrastructure alignment disputes have become in Bihar ahead of election cycles. What the denial does not fully address is why the reports gained enough traction to warrant an official response in the first place; credible misinformation rarely emerges in a vacuum. The reference to ‘influential individuals’ pressuring route changes, even if denied, points to a broader pattern of land-acquisition disputes on major highway projects where affected landowners and local power brokers routinely contest alignments. The real test of transparency will come when the land acquisition process concludes and affected households are identified — that is when alignment controversies typically resurface with harder evidence.
NationPress
2 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Patna-Purnea Expressway route been changed?
No. Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and NHAI have both denied any change, stating the alignment between km 48+000 and 53+000 remains exactly as originally approved on 15 January 2025. Land acquisition is proceeding on that original route.
Why did the route-change controversy arise?
Certain media and digital platforms, including a national newspaper, reported that the alignment in Samastipur district had been altered. The Bihar Road Construction Department and NHAI have called those reports factually incorrect and allegedly intended to spread misinformation.
Who approved the final alignment of the Patna-Purnea Expressway?
A high-level committee comprising representatives from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, NHAI, and other technical and expert agencies approved the alignment. Final approval was granted on 15 January 2025.
What is the 3A notification issued on 6 March 2026?
The 3A notification is a statutory step in the land acquisition process under the National Highways Act. Officials clarified that this notification, issued on 6 March 2026, is based on the same original alignment and does not reflect any route deviation.
How will the Patna-Purnea Expressway benefit travellers?
Once complete, the expressway will reduce travel time between Patna and Seemanchal districts — Araria, Kishanganj, Katihar, and Purnea — to under five hours. It will also improve connectivity to Siliguri and the northeastern states.
