Cabinet Approves ₹3822 Crore Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah Highway Project in Bihar

New Delhi, September 25: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the construction of a four-lane Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah section of NH-139W in Bihar, to be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM). The project spans 78.94 km with a total capital cost of ₹3,822.31 crore.

The new greenfield corridor is expected to provide faster, safer, and more reliable connectivity between the state capital Patna and Bettiah, linking the districts of Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran up to the Indo-Nepal border. It will facilitate long-distance freight movement, boost cross-border trade, and improve access to agricultural zones, industrial areas, and key logistics hubs.

The highway will also strengthen tourism and cultural connectivity by linking major heritage and Buddhist sites, including Kesariya Buddha Stupa (Sahebganj), Someshwarnath Mandir (Areraj), Jain Mandir and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Vaishali), and Mahavir Temple (Patna). In total, the project connects seven PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, six social nodes, eight logistic nodes, and nine major tourism and religious centers, bolstering the Buddhist circuit and Bihar’s international tourism potential.

Designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h with an average operational speed of 80 km/h, the corridor will cut travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to just 1 hour, offering uninterrupted mobility for both passenger and freight vehicles while decongesting existing routes.

The project is also expected to create 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment, with further opportunities arising from increased economic activity around the corridor.