Bihar Opposition Demands Probe Into Patna-Purnea Expressway Alignment

Opposition parties in Bihar are demanding an independent inquiry into the Patna-Purnea Greenfield Expressway route, alleging that the alignment was arbitrarily modified to benefit specific political interests. Residents of the Sarairanjan block in Samastipur district claimed the route change impacts habitable areas, with claims of political influence involving a relative of a senior state official. Both the official and the relative have denied any wrongdoing.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) asserted that there have been no changes to the approved alignment between kilometers 48 and 53 in Samastipur district. The agency maintained that all land acquisition processes are proceeding according to the original gazette notifications issued under the National Highways Act. However, the authority has not addressed why specific villages initially included in 2025 notifications were excluded from the final gazette update in 2026.

The combined opposition, led by the RJD and supported by the Jan Suraaj Party, has requested that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) form an independent team to investigate the matter. They argue that NHAI’s failure to clarify project report inconsistencies necessitates a public disclosure of all alignment details to maintain transparency and address community grievances regarding residential and educational land acquisition.