In a significant push for infrastructure development, the Bihar government has decided to construct five new expressways in the state under its own arrangements for the first time. These projects will be executed under the Saat Nishchay-3 (Seven Resolves-3) programme.
Formation Of Expressway Authority
To facilitate this massive undertaking, the state government is considering the formation of a dedicated Expressway Authority, modelled after the system in Uttar Pradesh.
Official Status: An initial meeting regarding this has already been held at the Road Construction Department level. A formal decision is expected soon.
The Precedent: Officials noted that a similar approach was taken in the past when the Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC) was formed to manage State Highway construction funded by Asian Development Bank (ADB) loans. The BSRDC currently handles responsibilities ranging from ADB appraisal to tender execution.
Purpose: The new authority will be established on similar lines to manage loans from financial institutions, which will fund these expressway projects.
Route Selection And Planning
The Road Construction Department is currently in the process of identifying the specific areas and determining the length of these five expressways.
Strategy: As the central government is already constructing four major expressways in the state, the department will explore possibilities in areas not covered by these central projects.
Next Steps: Once the locations are identified, a detailed presentation will be made to higher authorities for final approval.
Funding Model: Hybrid Annuity
The government is exploring the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for these state-funded expressways.
The Mechanism: Under this model, the construction company bears 60 per cent of the project cost upfront.
Recovery: The company's investment is later recovered through toll collection or other revenue streams.
Status Of Central Government Expressways In Bihar
While the state plans its own network, four expressways approved by the central government are at various stages of progress:
Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Expressway: Construction is currently underway.
- Cost: Rs 30,000 crore
- Length: 612 km
Patna-Purnia Expressway: An expressway number has been assigned.
- Cost: Rs 18,042 crore
- Length: 282 km
Raxaul-Haldia Expressway: Alignment decided; currently at the land acquisition stage.
- Cost: Rs 54,000 crore
- Length: 650 km
Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway: Alignment decided; currently at the land acquisition stage.
- Cost: Rs 25,000 crore
- Length: 520 km