Gadkari Approves ₹508 Crore Bengal Highway Upgrade

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced an allocation of ₹508.66 crore for strengthening and selective widening of National Highway 14 (NH-14) and National Highway 114 (NH-114) in West Bengal’s Birbhum district. The project aims to improve road safety, reduce congestion and travel time, and strengthen regional connectivity.

The work on NH-14 will cover a 91.90-km stretch between Bhimgarh and Nalhati via Mallarpur. The NH-114 component will cover 56.40 km between Surul village and Mallarpur. Together, the two projects cover 148.30 km of highway corridors.

The planned work includes strengthening existing road sections and selectively widening stretches where additional capacity is needed. The upgrades are intended to improve road conditions and make journeys safer and more efficient for daily commuters and commercial vehicles.

According to Gadkari, the upgraded highways are expected to ease congestion and reduce travel time while improving connections between villages, towns and important economic centres. The announcement outlines the intended benefits; the actual impact on journey times will depend on project execution and road conditions.

The project is also expected to facilitate smoother freight movement and support regional trade and local businesses. Better highway infrastructure can improve access to markets and reduce transport difficulties for businesses moving goods across the district.

The allocation forms part of broader efforts to improve national highway infrastructure and regional connectivity in West Bengal. The announcement did not specify a completion date for the two highway upgrades.