Patna: The Bihar government has secured approval from the central Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) for the construction of the Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section of National Highway 139W, paving the way for a significant infrastructure boost in the state.
State Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin said on Saturday that the estimated cost of the project is around Rs 4,000 crore and that tenders for construction will be floated soon.
“After PPPAC’s approval, the way for issuing tenders is clear,” Nabin said, adding that land acquisition for the highway is largely complete, with compensation disbursals underway.
The planned high-speed corridor will cover about 89 kilometres and will be built on a Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) basis, overseen by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The minister said construction is expected to be completed within 24 months of commencement.
The proposed highway will include significant civil works: one major bridge over the Tirhut canal, 11 smaller bridges on rivers and drains, 11 bridges on canals, five flyovers, two cloverleaf interchanges, six vehicular underpasses (VUPs), 10 light vehicular underpasses (LVUPs), 34 small underpasses (SUVUPs), and 209 box culverts. A bypass will also be constructed around Bettiah to ease congestion.
Nabin highlighted that the Sahebganj-Areraj-Bettiah section forms part of the broader Patna-Bettiah highway upgrade under NH 139W. Work is already underway on three separate packages for the route.
The first package involves building a new six-lane bridge parallel to the existing J.P. Setu across the Ganges. The second package includes a four-lane greenfield stretch from Bakarpur to Manikpur and the construction of a high-rise bridge at Konwa Ghat over the Gandak river. The third package, covering the Manikpur-Sahebganj stretch, has been allotted and is set to begin soon.
Expressing gratitude to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Nabin said the project reflects consistent central support for Bihar’s infrastructure development. “We have always received the cooperation of the Honourable Union Minister, and on behalf of the people of the state, I express my thanks,” he said.
Once complete, the highway is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Patna and Bettiah, reducing travel time and boosting regional economic development.
