Cabinet Clears Rs 38.22 Bn NH-139W Project in Bihar

27 Sep 2025 CW Team

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the construction of the 4-lane Sahebganj–Areraj–Bettiah section of NH-139W in Bihar. The project, worth Rs 38.22 billion, will be executed on Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) and cover a total length of 78.94 km.

The greenfield highway will provide faster connectivity between Patna and Bettiah, linking several North Bihar districts including Vaishali, Saran, Siwan, Gopalganj, Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, and West Champaran, extending up to the Indo-Nepal border. The project aims to facilitate long-distance freight movement, improve access to agricultural and industrial hubs, and strengthen regional economic development.

It will connect seven PM Gati Shakti economic nodes, six social nodes, eight logistics nodes, and nine major tourism and religious centres. Improved access to heritage and Buddhist sites such as Kesariya Buddha Stupa, Someshwarnath Mandir, Vishwa Shanti Stupa, and Mahavir Temple will enhance Bihar’s Buddhist circuit and boost international tourism.

The NH-139W will also serve as an alternative to congested existing routes by linking NH-31, NH-722, NH-727, NH-27, and NH-227A. Designed for speeds up to 100 km/h, the corridor will cut travel time between Sahebganj and Bettiah from 2.5 hours to just 1 hour, offering seamless and safer connectivity for both freight and passenger traffic.

The project is expected to generate 14.22 lakh man-days of direct employment and 17.69 lakh man-days of indirect employment, while also creating additional jobs through induced economic activity in the region.

News source: PIB

Equipment

09 Jan 2026

BKT Partners All Teams in India’s Women’s T20 League

Balkrishna Industries (BKT), a global leader in the off-highway tyre market, announced its association as the Official Tyre Partner for all five teams competing in India’s premier women’s T20 championship – Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Capitals, Gujarat Giants, and UP Warriorz – for the upcoming season. This move reinforces BKT’s commitment to using sport as a platform for inclusion, opportunity, and long-term development.These partnerships reflect BKT’s belief in the transformative power of sport, particularly in advancing women’s participation and creating..

Rajesh Power Secures 65 MW BESS Project in Gujarat

Rajesh Power Services has recently secured a 65 MW / 130 MWh standalone Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project in Gujarat, marking its entry into utility-scale energy storage. The company received a Letter of Intent from Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam for the project, which will be developed at Virpore under a tariff-based competitive bidding mechanism supported by Viability Gap Funding through the Power System Development Fund.The project is expected to be executed within 18 months from the signing of the Battery Energy Storage Purchase Agreement. With the ability to supply 65 MW of power for..

ONGC Forms JV with MOL for Ethane Shipping Operations

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (Oil and Natural Gas Corporation) has recently entered the ethane shipping segment through joint venture agreements with M/s Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd (Mitsui O.S.K. Lines), Japan. The agreements involve equity participation in two joint venture entities—Bharat Ethane One IFSC Private Limited and Bharat Ethane Two IFSC Private Limited—registered at GIFT City, Gandhinagar.Under the arrangement, ONGC will subscribe to 2,00,000 equity shares of Rs 100 each in both entities, resulting in a 50 per cent equity holding in each joint venture, with the remaining stake ..