MoRTH clears Rs 2,224-cr highway widening in Jharkhand

The Union transport ministry has given the green light to a significant highway project in Jharkhand, involving an investment of Rs 2,224 crore, to convert a 60-km long two-lane highway into a four-lane expressway. The project aims to upgrade the stretch from Ormanjhi in Ranchi district to Jainamore in Bokaro via Gola in Ramgarh. This route serves as the shortest connection between the state capital and Bokaro-Dhanbad.

The decision to expand the existing highway into a four-lane expressway comes as a response to the rising number of accidents in the Sikidiri valley along the route. Arvind Kumar Singh, the project director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), explained that the 59.94 km stretch from Ormanjhi, passing through Gola to Jainamore in Bokaro, is scheduled to begin construction in the coming days. NHAI has already obtained permissions from the deputy commissioners of Ranchi and Ramgarh, Rahul Kumar Sinha and Madhavi Mishra respectively, to carry out controlled explosions in the Sikidiri valley to remove hard rocks and widen the road.

This project holds the promise of improving connectivity and safety on this crucial stretch, benefiting commuters traveling between Ranchi, Bokaro, and Dhanbad.