Cabinet Approves ₹3,590 Crore NH-22 Upgrade in Bihar
82.58-km Muzaffarpur–Sitamarhi–Sonbarsa corridor to be upgraded to four lanes under Hybrid Annuity Mode
- Cabinet approves ₹3,590.73 crore NH-22 four-laning project in Bihar.
- 82.58-km corridor to be developed under Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM).
- Project will improve connectivity to Nepal border and key economic hubs.
- Upgradation to enhance road safety, freight movement and regional growth.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 19th Aug: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Wednesday approved the upgradation of the Muzaffarpur–Sitamarhi–Sonbarsa section of National Highway-22 in Bihar to a four-lane highway at a total capital cost of ₹3,590.73 crore.
The 82.578-km project will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and is aimed at improving connectivity between Muzaffarpur and the India–Nepal border at Sonbarsa while strengthening Bihar’s expanding National Highway network.
The upgraded corridor will serve as a key feeder route connecting the East–West Corridor (NH-27) with the India–Nepal border, significantly reducing traffic congestion in densely populated areas including Muzaffarpur, Muksudpur, Runni Saidpur, Thumma, Dumra, Bhutahi and Sonbarsa.
Designed for a maximum speed of 100 kmph with an average travel speed of 80 kmph, the highway will have no at-grade median openings, ensuring faster, safer and uninterrupted movement of passengers and freight.
Planned in line with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the project will improve multimodal connectivity to industrial areas, major railway stations and logistics hubs, facilitating smoother movement of goods and strengthening agricultural supply chains. It will also improve access to important religious and cultural destinations, including the Buddhist Circuit and Janaki Punaura Dham Temple in Sitamarhi.
The project will also strengthen connectivity with key freight corridors such as NH-31 and NH-122, industrial centres including Barauni, riverine logistics hubs along the Ganga, and the Bhithamore Land Port, enhancing cross-border passenger and cargo movement with Nepal.
Infrastructure under the project includes seven major bridges, including a 340-metre bridge over the Bagmati River, three Railway Over Bridges (ROBs) and two flyovers measuring 1,170 metres and 270 metres, respectively.
According to the government, the project will reduce travel time, improve road safety, lower vehicle operating costs and fuel consumption, and promote socio-economic development across the region. The upgraded corridor will also provide seamless connectivity to five PM GatiShakti Economic Nodes, four Social Nodes and two major logistics nodes, supporting faster movement of passengers and goods across Bihar.
