Bihar infrastructure boost: Rs 3,822-cr four-lane section of Sahebganj-Bettiah NH-139W approved; check benefits
The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved the construction of the four-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of NH-139W in Bihar under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,822.31 crore. Spanning 78.942 km, the project will improve connectivity between Patna and Bettiah and link key north Bihar districts, including Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran, extending up to the Indo-Nepal border.“The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has today approved the construction of the four-lane Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of the NH-139W in Bihar on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) with a total project length of 78.942 km and total capital cost of Rs 3,822.31 crore,” an official statement said.
Faster travel and high-speed connectivity
The greenfield highway is designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h with an average speed of 80 km/h, reducing travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to just one hour. It will provide safe, fast, and uninterrupted connectivity for both passenger and freight traffic, while serving as an alternate route to congested areas.
Economic development, employment opportunities
The highway will support long-distance freight movement, improve access to industrial zones, agricultural areas, and cross-border trade routes, and strengthen regional economic development. The project is expected to generate 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment, with additional opportunities arising from increased economic activity along the corridor.
Boost to tourism and Buddhist Circuit
The project will connect seven PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, six social nodes, eight logistic nodes, and nine major tourism and religious centers, including Kesariya Buddha Stupa (Sahebganj), Someshwarnath Mandir (Areraj), Jain Mandir and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Vaishali), and Mahavir Temple (Patna). This will enhance the Buddhist tourism circuit in Bihar and promote international tourism potential.The Cabinet has also approved the doubling of the 104-km Bakhtiyarpur–Rajgir–Tilaiya railway section in Bihar at a total cost of Rs 2,192 crore. Covering four districts, the project will expand the Indian Railways network in the state by an additional 104 km.
