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28 September, 2025
Approval of Four-Lane Greenfield Highway on NH-139W
Fri 26 Sep, 2025
Context :
- The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a 78.942 km long four-lane Greenfield Highway on the Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah section of NH-139W in Bihar.
Key Points :
- The project will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) with a total capital cost of ₹3,822.31 crore.
- It will connect Patna to Bettiah and cover major districts of North Bihar such as Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran, extending up to the India–Nepal border.
- This project is a part of the Bharatmala Project and falls under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, aimed at strengthening regional connectivity.
Project Details :
- Length & Structure: 78.942 km long Greenfield (new alignment) highway with four lanes. Route: Sahebganj – Areraj – Bettiah.
- Design Speed: 100 km/h; Average vehicular speed – 80 km/h.
- Mode: Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), where the government will bear 40% of the cost and the remaining by the private investor, based on toll revenue.
- Connectivity: Will link with NH-31, NH-722, NH-727, NH-27, and NH-227A. It will also boost the Buddhist Circuit (Vaishali, Kesariya).
- Timeline: Construction is expected to begin soon after approval. Earlier reports suggest that work on some stretches is already in progress.
Benefits :
| Type of Benefit | Details |
| Reduced | Travel Time Travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah to reduce from 2.5 hours to 1 hour. Travel time between Patna and Bettiah from 6 hours to 2.5 hours. |
| Economic Development | Will connect agriculture, industry, and trade hubs; boost India–Nepal border trade; link seven economic nodes and eight logistics nodes. |
| Employment Generation | Direct employment: 14.22 lakh man-days; Indirect: 17.69 lakh man-days through construction and operation. |
| Tourism & Safety | Boost to the Buddhist Circuit; decongestion of existing narrow and crowded roads; reduction in accidents. |
| Freight Movement | Improved long-distance freight movement, crucial for agricultural products of North Bihar. |
Challenges & Risks :
- Land Acquisition: Land disputes are common in Bihar; district authorities instructed to speed up the process, but delays possible.
- Environmental Impact: As a Greenfield project, it requires new land, which may affect forests/agriculture; environmental clearances could delay execution.
- Financial: Ensuring private sector interest in HAM model; toll revenue collection may pose challenges.
- Construction Risks: Flood-prone areas of North Bihar could cause seasonal delays.
National Highway-139W (NH-139W) – General Information
- Name / Number: National Highway-139W (NH-139W)
- Type: National Highway of India
- States Covered: Mainly Bihar
- Starting Point: Rajgir, Bihar
- Termination Point: Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
Importance :
- This is a Western Spur of NH-139.
- Connects the historic and religious city of Rajgir (Bihar) with the industrial hub of Jamshedpur (Jharkhand).
- Passes through Gaya, Nawada, Koderma, and Chaibasa.
Connectivity :
- Provides road connectivity to religious-tourism centers such as Bodh Gaya and Rajgir.
- Ensures direct linkage to the industrial regions of Jharkhand.