Bihar has also prepared an infrastructural project, a much-anticipated bridge over the Gandak River near Bettiah in West Champaran that will greatly reduce the distance between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. The construction is accompanied by a four-lane highway that has been recently approved, which will enhance the connectivity of the regions and economic development, too.
It is to be said that the planned 10.5 km, four-lane bridge will be across the Gandak River that will connect Bettiah (Bihar) with Pipraghat in Uttar Pradesh. The bridge forms a part of the proposed NH-727AA corridor of the Manurapur-Pipraghat-Shevarahi. It is estimated to cost hundreds of crores of construction with strong financial support on the part of the central government.
Concurrently, the Union Cabinet has approved a 78.94km, 3,822.31crore, four-laned highway on the Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah stretch of National Highway 139W, on a hybrid annuity basis. It is projected that this highway will save people a lot of time: the distance between Sahebganj and Bettiah, which now takes approximately 2.5 hours, will be covered in only an hour.
According to the officials, after the bridge is constructed, the distance between Bettiah and Gorakhpur (UP) will narrow to nearly 35 km as compared to the existing distance of approximately 160km. Likewise, the distance that will be covered by road to Kushinagar will be reduced by approximately 103 km to only 73km, and therefore it will be more accessible from West Champaran of Bihar.
The infrastructure push will spur the economy of the regions. The new highway will connect various districts of north Bihar – Vaishali, Siwan, Muzaffarpur, East and West Champaran and link them to big trading, agricultural, and industrial regions. The government is also optimistic that it will create a lot of employment: both direct construction work and other supporting economic prospects in the spheres of logistics, tourism, and international trade.
Strategic planners point out that the bridge will help increase trade across the states, lower travel expenses, and enhance accessibility to Uttar Pradesh destinations by individuals in the north Bihar. It is also likely to be advantageous in terms of health, education, and business dealings, especially in remote areas that experience excessive travel periods.
Nonetheless, though approvals have been made, problems lie ahead. The issue of land acquisition is also delicate, particularly on such a large river crossing, and environmental approvals will need to be handled well. The construction of such a large project across the Gandak will require strong engineering and investment of a long-term nature.
The bridge and highway projects are, in general, a significant leap towards the infrastructure goals of Bihar. When properly implemented, they might revolutionize travel, commerce, and regional growth in an underserved, historically underdeveloped region – making Bihar and even Uttar Pradesh seem even nearer than before.
