Gadkari announces Rs 5 lakh Cr road projects for Bihar
Patna, Oct 1 (UNI) union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said road infrastructure projects worth around Rs 3.88 lakh crore are planned in Bihar, with the Centre targeting completion of road works worth nearly Rs 5 lakh crore in the state by the end of the current term.
Addressing the Rising Bihar Investor Summit 2026, Gadkari outlined a series of completed, ongoing and proposed highway, expressway and greenfield corridor projects, saying the expanding road network would strengthen connectivity and could help attract investment, promote industrial activity and create employment opportunities. According to Gadkari, projects covering around 2,910 km and costing nearly Rs 33,000 crore has already been spent in Bihar.
Work is currently underway on projects covering around 1,878 km, with an investment of about Rs 65,100 crore, while proposed projects involve an estimated investment of nearly Rs 3.25 lakh crore. He said the total length of national highways in Bihar has increased from around 4,615 km in 2014 to nearly 6,500 km at present. Gadkari highlighted several major projects aimed at improving connectivity within Bihar as well as with neighbouring states and important economic centres. The Ram-Janki Marg, a roughly 440-km project estimated to cost Rs 5,440 crore, is among the key connectivity projects linking important religious and tourism destinations.
Around 27 per cent of the work has been completed, with the project targeted for completion by November 2028, he said. He also said projects worth around Rs 22,000 crore are being undertaken under a corridor associated with sites linked to Lord Buddha, with about 90 per cent of the work completed. One of the major proposed projects is the Gorakhpur-Siliguri High-Speed Corridor, estimated to cost around Rs 72,000 crore. Of this, approximately Rs 52,000 crore is expected to be invested in Bihar. The proposed corridor will be around 526 km long, of which nearly 410 km will pass through Bihar. Gadkari said the greenfield alignment for the project has been approved and notification for the land acquisition process has been issued.
He also referred to another greenfield project of around 400 km whose alignment has received in-principle approval. The proposal for the Patna-Purnea Greenfield Expressway has been sent for Cabinet approval, he said. The Buxar-Bhagalpur High-Speed Corridor, covering around 218 km at an estimated cost of Rs 10,000 crore, is another major project cited by the minister. The project will include both brownfield and greenfield stretches. A proposal for the Anisabad-Didarganj project in Patna, covering approximately 13.4 km and estimated to cost around Rs 8,500 crore has also been sent to the Cabinet, Gadkari said.
The minister also highlighted the Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Corridor, describing it as an important connectivity project for Bihar and eastern India. The nearly 600-km corridor has an estimated cost of around Rs 32,000 crore, with approximately 35 per cent of the work completed. Once completed, the corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Varanasi and Kolkata, besides improving connectivity between Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal, he said. Another major greenfield project is the proposed Raxaul-Haldia Corridor, which is around 550 km long and has an estimated cost of Rs 45,200 crore. Nearly 400 km of the corridor will be in Bihar, involving a proposed investment of around Rs 26,000 crore.
The detailed project report for the corridor is expected to be completed by December, Gadkari said. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Raxaul and Haldia from around 20 hours to about eight hours. The minister also underlined the importance of the Patna Ring Road project, which is around 162 km long and has an estimated cost of Rs 10,200 crore. The project is aimed at easing traffic congestion in Patna and improving connectivity around the state capital. According to Gadkari, the ring road will also provide improved connectivity to Darbhanga airport. Its completion is expected to reduce travel time in and around Patna and ease pressure on the city''s existing road network. Gadkari said the development of highways, expressways and greenfield corridors across Bihar could reduce logistics costs and travel time while improving access to markets and economic centres.
He said the expanded road network could also contribute to investment, industrial development, trade and employment generation. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary outlined the state government's priorities for attracting investment, expanding industries and creating employment opportunities. He invited the industry to participate in Bihar''s development journey and highlighted the state''s emerging business opportunities. Bihar Road Construction Minister Kumar Shailendra spoke about infrastructure and connectivity projects and their potential implications for economic and industrial activity in the state. Bihar Industries Minister Shreyasi Singh highlighted initiatives aimed at promoting investment and industrial development and outlined investment opportunities available in Bihar.
The Rising Bihar Investor Summit 2026 brought together government representatives, investors and industry stakeholders to discuss investment opportunities, infrastructure development, connectivity and industrial expansion in the state.
UNI RS RSA
