By Pranjal Gupta
Kolkata: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the Centre is committed to boosting infrastructure in Jharkhand, with national highway projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore set to be implemented in the state. Speaking at a public meeting, the Road Transport and Highways Minister said Rs 40,000 crore-worth projects have already been completed, Rs 70,000 crore-worth are underway, and a further Rs 75,000 crore-worth are in the pipeline. Key highway corridors, including the Rs 36,000 crore Varanasi-Ranchi-Kolkata greenfield corridor (to be completed by March 2028), and the Rs 12,800 crore Ranchi-Varanasi economic corridor (by January 2028), were highlighted. The Rs 31,700 crore Delhi-Kolkata six-lane corridor is due for completion by June 2026, while the Rs 8,900 crore Ranchi-Patna four-lane route is expected to be ready by December 2029. Another significant project is the Rs 16,500 crore Raipur-Dhanbad four-lane corridor, which should be completed by January 2028. Gadkari also announced a Rs 6,000 crore Ranchi Ring Road project, with a detailed report expected soon. He emphasised that better connectivity will help Jharkhand grow, reduce travel time, and generate employment. Additional projects aim to improve access to key religious and tourist destinations such as Baba Baidyanath in Deoghar. Gadkari further assured that within two years, India鈥檚 highways would match US standards and that logistics costs would drop to 9% of GDP by December 2025. He urged the Jharkhand government to address delays caused by land acquisition and forest clearances and suggested building roadside ponds to tackle water scarcity, using Maharashtra鈥檚 model. Since 2014, Jharkhand鈥檚 national highway network has grown from 2,600 km to 4,470 km, with all 19 aspirational districts now connected. In Garhwa, he inaugurated a 23-km four-lane stretch from Shankha to Khajoori (Rs 1,130 crore) and laid the foundation for a Rs 1,330 crore four-lane project on NH-39 from the Chhattisgarh border to Gumla. Despite weather disruptions, Gadkari arrived in Ranchi later and inaugurated projects worth Rs 3,890 crore, including a Rs 560 crore elevated corridor in the capital and major works in Palma-Gumla, Barhi-Koderma, Godda, Giridih, and Barahat-Tulsipur. In total, he launched and laid the foundation stones for highway projects worth Rs 6,350 crore across Jharkhand.