New Delhi, Sep 24 (NationPress) The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has officially sanctioned the development of the 4-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah segment of National Highway (NH) 139W in Bihar. This significant project spans a total length of 78.942 km with an estimated expenditure of Rs 3,822.31 crore.

This ambitious four-lane greenfield initiative, which will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), is set to enhance connectivity between the state capital Patna and Bettiah, linking the northern districts of Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran, extending to areas along the India-Nepal border. According to an official statement, this project will facilitate the transit of long-distance freight traffic, improve access to crucial infrastructure, and foster regional economic growth by enhancing connectivity to agricultural zones, industrial hubs, and cross-border trade routes.

The newly proposed greenfield alignment aims to support average vehicle speeds of 80 km/h as opposed to the design speed of 100 km/h. This development is expected to significantly cut down the travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to just 1 hour, offering safe, rapid, and seamless connectivity for both passenger and freight vehicles.

Moreover, this initiative will link seven PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, six social nodes, eight logistic nodes, and nine major tourism and religious sites. It will improve access to important heritage and Buddhist tourist attractions such as the Kesariya Buddha Stupa (Sahebganj), Someshwarnath Mandir (Areraj), Jain Mandir and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Vaishali), and Mahavir Temple (Patna), thus bolstering the Buddhist circuit and enhancing Bihar's international tourism potential.

NH-139W has been strategically planned to ensure high-speed alternatives to currently congested and geometrically deficient routes that traverse built-up areas, serving as a crucial link to NH-31, NH-722, NH-727, NH-27, and NH-227A.

This proposed project, covering a length of 78.94 km, is anticipated to create approximately 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Additionally, the project is expected to generate further job opportunities due to the rise in economic activities along the proposed corridor.