ADB & JICA Drive Bihar's Road to Progress: ₹1440 Crore+ Allocated

In the financial year 2025-26, the Bihar Road Construction Department has allocated Rs 1,440.74 crore under an externally funded scheme to enhance the state's highway infrastructure. This funding, primarily backed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), will focus on upgrading key state highways.

Phase-II of the Bihar State Highway Project 4 involves the construction of approximately 268 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 3,366.47 crore. Major projects under this phase include the Narpatganj–Parwaha Road (47 km) in Supaul and Araria districts, Rajnagar–Babu Barhi–Khutauna Road (41 km) in Madhubani, Brahmapur–Kuransarai–Itadhi–Saranja–Jalipur Road (57 km) in Buxar, and the Atarbel–Jale–Ghoghara Chatti Road (15 km) in Darbhanga and Sitamarhi.

Phase-I of the same project has already received administrative approval for five significant roads, also funded by ADB. These roads include the Darbhanga–Jethian–Gahlor–Bindu Road (41 km) through Nawada, Nalanda, and Gaya; Gauraiya–Inglis Mor–Asarganj Road (58 km) in Banka, Munger, and Bhagalpur; Chhapra–Manjhi–Darouli–Guthani Road (72 km) in Chhapra and Siwan; and Ara–Ekouna–Khaira–Sahar Road (32 km) in Bhojpur. Additionally, a high-level bridge with an approach road is under construction on the Hathaudi–Aurai Road in Muzaffarpur. Concurrently, another major infrastructure project is underway with assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

In parallel, the four-laning of the 93-km Gaya–Manpur–Hisua–Rajgir–Nalanda–Bihar Sharif Road is progressing with a project cost of Rs 2,138.16 crore. The agreement for this project was signed in 2016, and by December of the previous year, 96 percent of the work had been completed. The road is expected to be fully operational within this year.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.