Munger-Bhagalpur NH-80 to be four-lane

BHAGALPUR: With an aim to upgrade NH-80, its 57-km-long stretch between Munger and Bhagalpur will be converted into four-lane. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) official sources said the financial bid and tender process were in the final stages and construction work will start soon with an estimated cost of Rs1869.27 crore.
NHAI sources said the construction has to be completed in two years from the day of work allotment.The constructing agency will maintain the road for 15 years after that. The sources said the objective is to provide infrastructure boost and connectivity of the eastern regions of Bihar with Buxar and Santhal parganna regions in Jharkhand via Patna-Mokama-Munger-Bhagalpur in order to facilitate commercial activities and promote tourism.
Bipin Chandra, NHAI regional officer (Patna), said the process for construction of the four-lane stretch will start soon.
The approval for the construction of the four-lane stretch between Munger and Bhagalpur is part of the dream project of CM Nitish Kumar for a four-lane NH from Buxar via Patna-Mokama-Munger-Bhagalpur and connecting Jharkhand.
Mangal Pandey, who was road construction minister before the cabinet expansion on Tuesday, had tweeted on Sunday: “Out of the total 57km, the construction of 25km stretch between Munger and Kharia village junction will be made in the first phase.” Pandey also stated that the cost to be incurred for the first phase construction will be Rs918.38 crore. The remaining 32km stretch between Bhagalpur bypass point and Rasalpur village will be taken up in the next phase. The construction cost of this stretch will be Rs950.89 crore.
NHAI’s Chandra said the four-laning of the stretch will give a boost to infrastructural development in the state.