The Government of Bihar has formally requested approval from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways for two national highway projects intended to strengthen inter-state connectivity between North Bihar, South Bihar and Jharkhand. State Road Construction Minister E. Kumar Shailendra submitted the proposals to the Union minister, and the plan comprises both a four-laning scheme for NH-122 and widening of NH-139. The four-laning proposal covers the 102 km Muzaffarpur–Barauni stretch and includes construction of the Muzaffarpur Eastern Bypass to reduce urban congestion. The estimated expenditure for the NH-122 work is Rs 32 billion (bn), converted from the requested Rs 3,200 crore.

A detailed project report has been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India for the NH-122 upgrade, proposing carriageway expansion and the bypass to integrate with the East-West Corridor, NH-27. The measures are intended to streamline traffic flow through Muzaffarpur, improve connectivity for commuter movements and reduce delays caused by urban bottlenecks. The bypass is expected to provide a direct route for through traffic and to separate local and long-distance vehicles for operational efficiency.

The second proposal envisages four-laning of the NH-139 corridor from Naubatpur to the Jharkhand border to enhance safety and facilitate freight movement linking Patna with the Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata corridor via Aurangabad. Officials described the widening as part of a regional strategy to bolster freight logistics and reduce transit times for heavy vehicles moving between northern and eastern industrial zones. The scheme is expected to improve axle load management and contribute to lower accident rates on the route.

Officials indicated that the projects are designed to support economic growth by improving access to markets and industrial centres and by shortening travel time for passengers and goods. The proposals now await Union sanction and subsequent clearances and funding decisions from national agencies before procurement and construction can commence. Implementation timelines will depend on approvals from the ministry and the National Highways Authority of India and on mobilisation of resources for execution.