New Delhi: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a four-lane section of National Highway-139W in Bihar. The project covers the Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah stretch and will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at a capital cost of ₹3,822.31 crore.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the proposed greenfield highway will span 78.94 km and is aimed at enhancing road connectivity between Bihar’s capital, Patna, and Bettiah. It will also significantly improve access to northern districts such as Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran, extending up to the Indo-Nepal border.
The project is expected to play a key role in promoting regional economic development by improving connectivity to agricultural zones, industrial areas, and cross-border trade routes. It will also support long-distance freight movement and reduce traffic congestion on existing routes.
As part of the PM Gati Shakti initiative, the highway will connect:
7 Economic Nodes
6 Social Nodes
8 Logistics Nodes
9 Major Tourism and Religious Centers
These include prominent heritage and Buddhist tourism sites like the Kesariya Buddha Stupa (Sahebganj), Someshwarnath Mandir (Areraj), Jain Mandir and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Vaishali), and Mahavir Temple (Patna)—strengthening Bihar’s Buddhist tourism circuit and enhancing its global tourism appeal.
The NH-139W will serve as a vital link to major highways including NH-31, NH-722, NH-727, NH-27, and NH-227A. The new alignment is designed to allow average vehicle speeds of 80 km/h (with a design speed of 100 km/h), cutting travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to just 1 hour. This will provide safer, faster, and uninterrupted connectivity for both passenger and freight vehicles.
The construction phase is expected to generate approximately 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Additionally, the corridor is anticipated to stimulate further job creation through increased economic activity in the surrounding regions.
