Gadkari Unveils Rs 6,350 Crore Highway Projects Across Jharkhand

Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated and laid the foundation for major highway projects across Jharkhand on July 4, 2025, marking a significant investment in the state’s infrastructure. Speaking in Garhwa, he announced the completion of a four-lane highway between Shankha and Khajuri (23 km, ₹1,130 crore) and initiated widening of a 32 km NH‑39 stretch to four lanes (₹1,330 crore).

Cumulatively, Jharkhand has seen ₹40,000 crore worth of highway projects completed, ₹70,000 crore under construction and ₹75,000 crore in the pipeline, with an overall ₹2 lakh crore investment planned. Major corridors include the Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata greenfield (₹36,000 crore, to be ready by March 2028), Ranchi–Patna economic corridor, Ranchi–Varanasi upgrade, Raipur–Dhanbad corridor and the Delhi–Kolkata six-lane corridor, most progressing rapidly.

Gadkari highlighted that logistics costs have dropped from 16% to 10% of GDP, and are projected to reach 9% by year-end, boosting exports, industry and employment. He emphasized funding is not a constraint, citing delays are due only to environmental, forest clearances and land acquisition.