Election Highway: One-third of the nation’s highway projects to be launched in Bihar

PM Narendra Modi, Bihar Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, CM Nitish Kumarat inauguration and foundation stone laying of various development projects at a public meeting, in Siwan district. (PTI/File Photo)

It’s not just election rhetoric that is intensifying in Bihar — a barrage of development projects is also on the horizon. In the current financial year 2025–26, nearly two-thirds of all highway projects included in the national action plan will be launched in Bihar. These projects have a combined cost of Rs 33,464 crore — the highest allocation for any state in the country. A total of 52 projects have been approved for Bihar.

Rajasthan ranks second with projects worth Rs 14,811 crore, less than half of Bihar’s allocation. Maharashtra comes third with Rs 13,869 crore worth of projects in the plan.

Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena has written to all district officials, directing them to review their district’s projects weekly to ensure swift preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), complete land acquisition and initiate the tendering process at the earliest.

He has emphasized that the aim should be to issue all project tenders before the Model Code of Conduct for elections comes into effect.

What’s notable is that out of the 52 projects included in Bihar’s action plan, 46 have been marked as high priority. This means that project estimates and other documents must be submitted as soon as possible .

The total length of these 52 highway projects in Bihar is 875 kilometers. The list includes 7 bridges, 18 ROBs/RUBs, and 7 bypasses. Some of the key projects are:

• A 10-kilometer long elevated corridor between Anisabad and AIIMS (Patna)
• A bridge at Magardahi Ghat to ease traffic congestion near Samastipur city
• A bridge on the Gandak River between Bettiah and Sewarahi
• A bridge on the Kamla River
• Construction of bypasses in Arwal, Daudnagar, and Aurangabad to avoid city congestion
• A 38-kilometer highway between Darbhanga and Jaynagar
• A 69-kilometer highway between Bettiah and Bagaha
• An 89-kilometer highway between Arwal and Bihar Sharif

The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways recently conducted a nationwide review of proposed highway projects. This review was held between April 19, 2025, and June 12, 2025. Based on this review, the Central Government issued an Office Memorandum to all state Chief Secretaries on June 19, 2025, instructing them to expedite pre-construction processes to facilitate early contract awards.