Patna: Come 2025, the distance from Patna to Rajgir, an international tourist spot in Nalanda district, will be cut short by 14km, with the completion of a 19.43km two-lane road with paved shoulder on Salepur-Narsanda-Telmar-Karouta route.
The total length from Patna (Zero Mile) to Rajgir via this 19.43km Salepur-Karouta road will be 86km, the shortest route between the two places.
Developed with an estimated cost of Rs 265 crore, the project is being undertaken by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL). The project is likely to be completed by January 31, 2025, after which commuters will have to cover only a distance of 86km to reach Rajgir from Patna as compared to the present 100km, according to BRPNNL officials.
"The road stretch originates on state highway-78 in Salepur and terminates on national highway (NH)-31 (Old NH-30) near Karouta. CM Nitish Kumar had laid the foundation stone of this prestigious project on September 22, 2020, however, the construction work started only on December 11, 2021," said a BSRDCL official.
Chairman of BRPNNL, Shirshat Kapil Ashok, visited the project site on Wednesday and reviewed the work, during which he held detailed discussions with engineers about converting the stretch from Salepur to Rajgir into a four-lane. He instructed them to submit proposals and estimates soon.
Chairman Ashok said that the foundation stone for the widening of the road will be laid soon.
At present, the existing Salepur-Karouta road consists of a 17.6km intermediate lane (5-5.5m carriageway) length and a 3.37km single lane of 3.5m width, which is being widened to 10m.
The developed route will facilitate an alternate smooth, safer and free-flow traffic movement from NH-31 near Karauta (Jagdamba Sthan) to Silao and Rajgir on NH-120 via Telmar, Narsanda (NH-431), Salepur (SH-78), Noorsarai bypass, and Badgaon.
Another official said that the project will provide multidimensional growth to tourism, economic, cultural as well as educational activities as it connects places of historical importance as well as the seat of learning Nalanda University, Buddhist and Jain circuits. Not just for its historical and cultural importance, Rajgir was recently in limelight for hosting Women's Hockey Asian Champions Trophy from Nov 11-20. It is also scheduled to hold Men's Hockey Asia Cup next year.
Besides, a flyover is also being constructed over NH-30A near Narasanda in Nalanda district.
Ashok also visited the 1,435m-long flyover under construction, starting from LIC More to Soghra College, being built under Smart Cities Mission. The bridge, which along with the approach road is 1,660m long, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 84.6 crore.
"Once the road over bridge is completed, traffic in Bharavpar Chowk, Laheri Thana Chowk and Gagan Diwan areas will become smoother, and vehicles coming from Bihar Sharif city will be able to travel towards Patna and Ranchi without any hindrance," said the chairman.