Patna: The central government has taken a tougher line on delayed national highway projects in Bihar, asking the state to submit a comprehensive list of schemes that have yet to begin despite receiving approval and funding.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has written to Bihar’s road construction department seeking details of all national highway projects that remain stalled, sources claimed. A high-level review meeting, chaired by the Union minister for road transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari, is scheduled to be held in Delhi on February 16 and 17.
Officials said projects costing more than Rs 100 crore will now be placed under regular and stringent monitoring at the central level. The review is expected to examine why several schemes have failed to start on time and what steps are required to fast-track their execution.
According to departmental sources, the meeting will assess projects being implemented or proposed by the National Highways Authority of India, the ministry itself and Bihar’s national highways division. The status of road projects sanctioned in the 2025–26 financial year will also be reviewed.
Special attention will be paid to projects where tenders have been issued but contracts not awarded, as well as schemes where work has been awarded but construction has yet to begin. Maintenance of existing national highways in Bihar is also on the agenda, with issues such as delayed repairs, congestion and road safety likely to be discussed.
Among the projects expected to come up for review are the rail overbridge between Samastipur and Darbhanga, bypasses at Mangobandar, Kendua, Jhajha, Nariganjo and Bhaironganj, the Bhagalpur–Dhaka Mor project, the Arwal bridge, renovation works in Siwan under NH-727A, the Musrigharari rail overbridge and the bridge under construction at Mehrauna Ghat on the Budhi Gandak river.
Several large road projects where work has yet to commence despite approvals will also be examined, including the Patna–Ara–Sasaram four-lane highway, the Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata corridor, the Ara bypass, the Ramnagar–Kachhi Dargah road, the Kishanganj–Bahadurganj road, and bypasses at Katihar, Daudnagar, Nasariganj, Dawath, Sheikhpura, Jamui and Khaira.
Sources said the centre may issue firm directions during the meeting to ensure immediate commencement of delayed projects. Accountability is likely to be fixed in cases where land acquisition hurdles, forest clearances, technical issues, contractor delays or administrative bottlenecks have held up construction.
