The Daudnagar bypass project in Bihar’s Aurangabad district is moving closer to construction, with tendering for the Rs288-crore NH-139 road project nearing completion and officials expediting land acquisition to clear the way for work.
The bypass is planned to divert Patna-Aurangabad traffic away from congested urban stretches of Daudnagar. It will run along the eastern side of Bhakhraua Chowk, beginning from NH-139 near BEd College on the Daudnagar-Patna road and reconnecting with NH-139 near the Nasriganj Road overbridge towards Aurangabad.
The alignment will also cross NH-120, where an overbridge has been proposed. It will pass near Budhanbigha village before the jail, according to details reported by the Times of India. The route is intended to provide an alternative for through traffic while reducing vehicle pressure on roads inside the town.
Around 29.08 hectares of land will be acquired for the project. Land in Amauna, Sipaha, Nima, Ankoraha, Tarari, Pilchi, Tarar and Mahawar mauzas has been identified for acquisition. Of the total estimated cost, approximately Rs159 crore is earmarked for road construction, with the remaining amount allocated to land acquisition.
The National Highways Authority of India will undertake construction. NHAI executive engineer Tulsi Prasad said officials recently inspected the site as part of the land acquisition process. The inspection team included district land acquisition officer Shubhendra Kumar Jha, SDO Ritesh Kumar Yadav, Daudnagar LRDC Pranav Kumar, additional district land acquisition officer Jitendra Kumar Sinha and the Daudnagar circle officer, among others.
Officials decided to accelerate the land acquisition process so that the project could proceed towards construction. Prasad said vehicles travelling between Patna and Aurangabad would be able to avoid Daudnagar’s congested urban sections after the bypass is completed. He identified Bhakhraua Chowk, which handles considerable vehicle movement, as a location expected to see lower traffic pressure.
The project is also expected to improve movement for residents of surrounding areas and create temporary employment during construction, according to the report. However, the immediate administrative priority remains the completion of land acquisition and the conclusion of the tendering process.
With tendering in its final stage, the next milestone is the transition from preparatory work to construction after the required land acquisition and project formalities are completed.