Patna, Construction of the long-awaited four-lane Bhagalpur–Hansdiha national highway in Bihar is expected to commence in the new year following the release of approved funding worth ₹18.36 billion, officials from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have confirmed.
The project, which has been in the pipeline for several years, received administrative sanction earlier this year. With the allocation now in place, the tendering process for appointing an executing agency has been accelerated. The detailed project report and related documentation have already been forwarded to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for final clearance.
The upgraded 84-km stretch will feature a concrete median divider, dedicated footpaths, and 12 integrated bus bays with passenger amenities and toilet blocks, aimed at improving road safety and traveller convenience. Several high-risk sections, including sharp curves and a deteriorated existing bridge, will be demolished and rebuilt to modern four-lane standards.
The work will be executed in two phases:
1. Bhagalpur Aliganj Bypass to Dhakamore
2. Dhakamore to Bhaljor (near Hansdiha)
A senior NHAI official indicated that, barring unforeseen delays in tender finalisation, physical construction is likely to begin in January 2026.
In a separate development, the tender for the complementary four-lane link from Lohia Bridge to Aliganj in Bhagalpur has been cancelled on technical grounds, primarily due to the non-publication of the required notice inviting bids. Executive Engineer Arvind Gupta confirmed that fresh tenders for both the Lohia Bridge–Aliganj section and the previously stalled Bhagalpur–Agarpur–Kotwali stretch will be floated simultaneously within weeks.
The combined upgrades are seen as critical for easing congestion, reducing accident rates, and boosting economic connectivity between Bhagalpur and the Santhal Pargana region of Jharkhand.
