Patna, The Union government has granted administrative approval for the construction of a 29-kilometre two-lane bridge-cum-road over the Gandak river in West Champaran’s Bettiah district, marking it as the longest bridge project in Bihar to date. The project, with an estimated cost of ₹1,977 crore, forms part of a broader ₹4,000-crore-plus package of road and bridge initiatives cleared for the state.
The bridge will significantly improve connectivity between Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, reducing travel time on the key Bihar-UP corridor and easing movement for both commercial and passenger traffic. The approval was confirmed during a high-level review meeting chaired by Bihar’s Road Construction Minister Nitin Naveen with officials from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
In addition to the Gandak bridge, the Centre has sanctioned several other major infrastructure projects in Bihar, including:
– ₹58.6 crore for a 3-km two-lane bridge over the Budhi Gandak in Samastipur
– ₹225.66 crore for widening 23.95 km of the Musri-Gharari–Darbhanga road
– ₹863.15 crore for upgrading 26.51 km of the Dhaka Mod–Hansdiha section to two lanes with paved shoulders
– ₹665.5 crore for a 13.48-km Arwal bypass
– ₹288.28 crore for an 8.375-km Daudnagar bypass
Minister Nitin Naveen emphasised the strategic importance of timely execution, stating that national highway development is critical for Bihar’s industrial, commercial and social progress. He directed officials to strictly adhere to deadlines, maintain quality standards, accelerate land acquisition, and resolve administrative bottlenecks in coordination with district authorities. Engineers have been instructed to intensify site inspections and hold regular review meetings with contractors.
The approvals come as the Nitish Kumar-led state government pushes to fast-track pending annual plan projects before the close of the current financial year, with the minister calling for remaining schemes to be cleared expeditiously by the Centre.
The Gandak bridge, once completed, is expected to provide a vital east-west linkage in northern Bihar and bolster regional logistics, particularly for agricultural produce moving towards Uttar Pradesh and beyond.
