Gadkari announced the approval in a post on X on Saturday. The project covers a 91.90-km stretch of NH-14 between Bhimgarh and Nalhati via Mallarpur, along with a 56.40-km stretch of NH-114 between Surul Village and Mallarpur.
The work will involve strengthening the existing highway stretches and widening selected sections to improve road capacity and overall road conditions. The upgraded corridors are expected to improve connectivity across Birbhum, reduce travel time and ease congestion.
“The upgraded corridors will improve road safety, ease congestion, reduce travel time, facilitate smoother movement of people and goods, and strengthen connectivity between villages, towns and key economic centres,” Gadkari said.
The two highway stretches connect several villages and towns in Birbhum and serve as important routes for local and commercial traffic. The strengthening and widening works are expected to improve journey safety and make freight movement more efficient, supporting regional trade and local businesses.
The Centre has been undertaking several highway projects in West Bengal to improve road infrastructure and regional connectivity. In March, the government announced multiple National Highway projects in the state, including works on NH-114 and the Kharagpur-Moregram economic corridor.
The announcement came as Gadkari addressed the “Asian Scenario on Infrastructural Development (ASID-26)” conference organised by the Nagpur Centre of the Indian Concrete Institute in Nagpur. He highlighted the importance of infrastructure development for India’s economic growth and called for an international code of conduct for the infrastructure sector.
Gadkari also stressed the need to increase the use of alternative and discarded materials in infrastructure projects. According to the report, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has so far used around 80 tonnes of municipal waste in road construction.
