Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Saturday announced the approval of funds for two major bypass projects in Bihar’s Arwal and Daudnagar (Aurangabad district).
According to the announcement, Rs 665.50 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a bypass on National Highway-139 in Arwal, while Rs 288.28 crore has been approved for a bypass in Daudnagar. NH-139 is a key route connecting Patna to Jharkhand via Aurangabad.
The new bypasses are expected to ease traffic congestion in Arwal and Daudnagar, where heavy vehicles, particularly trucks carrying sand and goods, often disrupt city traffic and cause difficulties for residents and patients travelling towards Patna. The projects also include provisions for city-side service roads to facilitate local movement.
Officials said the bypasses will not only decongest city areas but also improve connectivity between Patna, Arwal, Daudnagar, and Aurangabad, thereby boosting trade and reducing accident risks.
Meanwhile, RJD leader E Subodh Kumar Singh urged the Centre to expedite approval for widening NH-139 to four lanes between Aurangabad and Patna. He pointed out that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Aurangabad urban bypass has already been sent to the ministry but is awaiting clearance.