**Why the Raxaul-Haldia Expressway is important**  
  
The expressway will end in West Bengal’s Haldia, an important hub for maritime trade. The 719-kilometre-long corridor will connect Haldia with Bihar’s Raxaul city, which is crucial for the trade between India and Nepal.   
After the construction of the corridor, the travel time between Raxaul and Haldia is expected to go down from 17-18 hours to just nine to 10 hours. The access-controlled expressway will be able to handle speeds of up to 120 km/h.  
A direct connection to Haldia Port and the Hooghly River, will make shipping more convenient for businesses, reduce freight costs, and improve the logistics network.  
Administrative activities for the six-lane corridor have been expedited in approximately 11-12 districts of Bihar, Jagran reported. Land acquisition is underway in 58 revenue villages of Banka district. A 72-km stretch has also been proposed in East Champaran. The construction is expected to finish in 2028. The project has an estimated cost of ₹60,000 crore.

Raxaul-Haldia Expressway: Proposed corridor between North Bihar and West Bengal may cut travel time by half