The Central Government will invest Rs. 2 lakh crore to improve Jharkhand’s road infrastructure, announced Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. Several major highway projects were inaugurated, and future plans include green corridors, electric buses, and cultural initiatives to boost development and connectivity.
In a major push to improve Jharkhand’s infrastructure, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that the Central Government will invest Rs. 2 lakh crore in road and highway development projects across the state. Speaking at a public rally in Garhwa and later at an inauguration event in Ranchi, Gadkari said the state, rich in natural resources, deserves world-class connectivity to support growth, employment, and ease of transport.
“I promise the people of Jharkhand that national highway projects worth Rs. 2 lakh crore will be implemented. These projects will change the future of the state,” he said.
Major Projects in Pipeline
Gadkari shared that the Centre has already completed projects worth Rs. 40,000 crore and ongoing works of Rs. 70,000 crore are under various stages of construction. In addition, Rs. 75,000 crore worth of projects are being planned and will begin soon. Key projects and timelines include –
- Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata Greenfield Corridor (Rs. 36,000 crore) – To be completed by March 2028
- Ranchi-Varanasi Economic Corridor (Rs. 12,800 crore) – Targeted for January 2028
- Delhi-Kolkata 6-lane Corridor (Rs. 31,700 crore) – To finish by June 2026
- Ranchi-Patna Economic Corridor (Rs. 8,900 crore) – Expected by December 2029
- Raipur-Dhanbad Corridor (Rs. 16,500 crore) – Scheduled for January 2028
These highways will drastically reduce travel time, lower logistics costs, and increase economic activity, Gadkari said.
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Focus on Religious & Tourism Connectivity
The minister also announced special attention to roads connecting important religious and tourist destinations like Baba Baidyanath Dham in Deoghar. A new Ranchi Ring Road project worth Rs. 6,000 crore has also been approved, and the Detailed Project Report (DPR) is in the works. Gadkari assured that in the next two years, India’s national highways will match the quality of highways in the US.
Projects Worth Rs. 3,890 Crore Inaugurated in Ranchi
Due to bad weather, Gadkari’s chopper was diverted to Bihar’s Gaya, but he later arrived in Ranchi to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for multiple highway projects worth ₹3,890 crore. These include –
- Palma-Gumla Four-lane Highway (Rs. 1,900 crore)
- Barhi-Koderma Four-lane Project (Rs. 825 crore)
- Elevated Corridor at Ratu Road, Ranchi (Rs. 560 crore)
- Road development in Godda, Giridih, Barahat-Tulsipur
In total, Rs. 6,350 crore worth of national highway projects were either launched or inaugurated during his visit.
CM Hemant Soren Misses Event, Assures Support
Chief Minister Hemant Soren could not attend the Ranchi event due to his father Shibu Soren’s ill health. However, Gadkari confirmed that he spoke with CM Soren over the phone and promised all necessary support from the Centre. Addressing pending road projects stuck due to land acquisition and forest clearance issues, Gadkari requested the state government to coordinate better. He suggested CM Soren hold joint meetings with his ministers and even bring in BJP leader Babulal Marandi, if needed, to speed up approvals.
State Leaders Appreciate Centre’s Commitment
At the event, several leaders appreciated Gadkari’s efforts. Union Minister Sanjay Seth praised the approval of the Ranchi Outer Ring Road and demanded electric buses and decorative painting on pillars of the new elevated corridor. Opposition leader Babulal Marandi said Jharkhand’s broken roads are now turning into smooth two- and four-lane highways thanks to Gadkari. Former CM Raghubar Das highlighted that many stalled infrastructure projects from the “double engine” government era are now seeing progress.
Additional Announcements by Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari announced that electric bus services like Nagpur will be introduced in Ranchi and Jamshedpur, offering 30% cheaper fares. The new elevated corridor in Ranchi will feature traditional Sohrai tribal painting, preserving Jharkhand’s rich cultural heritage. He also suggested Jharkhand adopt Maharashtra’s model of constructing ponds during highway projects to aid water conservation and rural employment.
Jharkhand’s Highway Network Sees Major Expansion
Gadkari noted that in 2014, Jharkhand had just 2,600 km of national highways, which has now expanded to 4,470 km. “Nineteen aspirational districts of Jharkhand are now connected with the national highway network,” he said. He also inaugurated a 23-km four-lane stretch from Shankha to Khajoori (Rs. 1,130 crore) and laid the foundation for a 32-km highway from Chhattisgarh-Jharkhand border to Gumla (Rs. 1,330 crore).
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