The Bihar government is preparing to implement its own State Highway Act to transform the road infrastructure across the state. Moving away from its reliance on the National Highway Act, the state will now have the power to construct, operate, and maintain expressways independently. This new law aims to facilitate the construction of five major expressways proposed under the Saat Nischay-3 program. The Bihar Road Construction Department is leading the legislative draft, and the Bihar Cabinet is expected to approve the enforcement of this Act soon.
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What are the New Rules for State Highways?
The state government has set new stricter standards for a road to be declared a State Highway. These criteria ensure that only major connecting routes are upgraded.
- The road must connect at least two National Highways or link a major city directly to the state capital, Patna.
- Roads leading to major tourist destinations and religious centers are also eligible for this upgrade.
- The minimum width is set at 7.5 meters, making a two-lane road mandatory.
- An additional 30 to 60 meters of land must be acquired during construction to allow for future expansion.
How Will the Expressways be Built?
A new independent body called the Expressway Authority is proposed to be established for the dedicated planning and management of state expressways. Secretary of the Road Construction Department, Pankaj Kumar Pal, recently led a delegation to Maharashtra to study their expressway model to adapt it for Bihar.
- Expressways will be designed for high speeds up to 120 kmph.
- The road structure will typically feature 6 to 8 lanes and will be elevated above normal road levels.
- Projects will utilize Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and Hybrid Annuity Models (HAM) for financial structuring.
- Toll collection policies will be governed strictly under this new Act.
Impact on Upcoming Road Projects
The government has ordered accelerated land acquisition for four major greenfield projects, including the Mokama-Munger Expressway, to meet deadlines by the new financial year. Work is also progressing on other existing crucial routes to improve local connectivity.
A recent review was conducted for the widening of the Bihta-Maner-Danapur road stretch. A re-tender worth 81 crore rupees is under process for this 22.74 kilometer stretch to improve western connectivity to Patna. The new Act will streamline the management and execution of such large-scale road projects across the state.
