Patna: The Bihar Government has sought approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for two major national highway projects aimed at improving connectivity within the state and with Jharkhand. The proposals include four-laning of NH-122 between Muzaffarpur and Barauni and widening of NH-139 from Naubatpur to the Jharkhand border.
State Road Construction Minister E. Kumar Shailendra submitted the proposals to the Union Government. The NH-122 project has an estimated cost of ₹3,200 crore, while a detailed project report for the upgrade has been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
NH-122 Upgrade to Include Muzaffarpur Bypass
The proposed NH-122 project covers around 102 km between Muzaffarpur and Barauni and includes a Muzaffarpur Eastern Bypass.
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Key components include:
- Four-laning of the Muzaffarpur–Barauni stretch.
- Construction of the Muzaffarpur Eastern Bypass.
- Integration of the bypass with the East-West Corridor and NH-27.
- Expansion of carriageway capacity along the proposed stretch.
The bypass is proposed to provide an alternative route for through traffic and help separate long-distance vehicles from local traffic in Muzaffarpur.
NH-139 Widening to Jharkhand Border
The second proposal involves widening NH-139 from Naubatpur to the Jharkhand border.
The corridor would strengthen road connectivity towards Jharkhand and improve movement along the Patna–Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata route through Aurangabad. The proposal also focuses on improving road safety and facilitating freight movement.
Projects Await Union Approval
The proposals are currently awaiting Union Government approval, followed by the necessary clearances and funding decisions. Procurement and construction will depend on these approvals and subsequent project mobilisation.
The two projects are part of Bihar’s efforts to strengthen its national highway network and improve road connectivity between North Bihar, South Bihar and neighbouring Jharkhand.
