MoRTH approves ₹1,684-cr highway projects in Bihar

The Union transport ministry has given its approval to the Bhagalpur-Hansdiha and Barbigha-Jamui-Godda stretches of national highway projects that have been delayed for a long time. The combined investment for the projects is estimated to be ₹1,684.19 crore. The department will construct the road, while the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will bear the cost of land acquisition and civil work. As per the letters of approval, the projects must be completed within two years from the date of award of work, and there will be no extension of time.

Under the first project, the Road Construction Department (RCD) will build a 36.60 km stretch of NH133E from Bhagalpur-Kharhara village (Dhaka More) in Banka in a four-lane with the paved shoulder on the EPC model. The MoRTH has allocated ₹973.46 crore for land acquisition and construction of the road. The letter also stated that there shall be a revision of the estimate only if the 50% project is complete.

The second project pertains to the construction of a 62-km two-lane with paved shoulder of NH333A, passing through Barbigha-Sheikhpura-Jamui-Banka and Dhaka More (till the Jharkhand border connecting Godda district), for which a sum of ₹746.73 crore has been sanctioned. The Barbigha-Dhaka More stretch will have six bypasses to be built at Mangobandhar, Kendua, Tolesone, Jhajha, Narganjo, and Bhairoganj localities, and they will be built around a 20km length, and the entire stretch of land needed to be acquired.