Cabinet approves Rs 4,447 crore Mokama-Munger road project to boost Bihar's eastern corridor

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a major infrastructure project in Bihar, approving the construction of a four-lane Mokama–Munger section of the Buxar–Bhagalpur high-speed corridor. The 82.4-km stretch, to be built at a cost of Rs 4,447.38 crore, is expected to transform connectivity in eastern Bihar and give a push to emerging industries in the region.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The project will be built on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and completed within three years, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced.

The new section will provide faster connectivity between Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur and Munger, while extending to Bhagalpur. Officials said the corridor will reduce dependence on existing congested routes and improve the movement of goods and passengers across the state.

According to a government statement, the Munger–Jamalpur–Bhagalpur belt has been growing into a hub for industries and logistics. The region hosts an ordnance factory, a locomotive workshop at Jamalpur, food processing units such as ITC's plant in Munger, and warehousing facilities. Bhagalpur, known for its silk industry, is also expanding as a logistics and textile centre, while Barahiya is emerging in food packaging, processing and agro-warehousing.

Reduced travel time, better freight movement

Once completed, the four-lane corridor will support average vehicular speeds of 80 km per hour, with a design speed of 100 km per hour. Travel time on the Mokama–Munger stretch is expected to come down to just 1.5 hours.

Officials said this would not only improve passenger travel but also speed up freight movement. "The increased economic activity in the region is expected to drive up traffic on the Mokama–Munger section in the future," the statement noted.

Employment opportunities

The government estimates the project will generate about 14.83 lakh man-days of direct employment and 18.46 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Beyond construction, officials expect more jobs as new economic activity takes root along the corridor.

Nitin Nabin, Bihar's Minister for Road Construction Department, welcomed the Cabinet's approval. "While the construction of a four-lane section will help reduce commute time, it will also give a boost to the industries along the corridor - Mokama, Barahiya, Lakhisarai, Jamalpur, Munger and Bhagalpur - adding to employment, growth and development in the region," he said.