NHAI to use excavated river silt for Bihar highway projects
The National Highways Authority of India and the Bihar government signed an agreement to repurpose silt for road construction.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will use sand and material excavated from rivers and water bodies in Bihar as primary resources for the state's national highway network, according to a Deccan Herald report on Tuesday.
Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the move after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Bihar government in New Delhi to desilt water bodies and use the resulting sludge for highway projects.
Gadkari stated that Bihar loses approximately Rs 10,000 crore annually due to floods and said the initiative aims to gradually make the state flood-free by improving water flow and drainage.
The NHAI has noted a need for roughly 243 lakh cubic metres of silt to support current and planned National Highway works in the state.
The state's highway projects include 39 ongoing works covering 1,561 km at an estimated cost of Rs 58,340 crore, and 11 proposed projects spanning 1,982 km with an estimated investment of Rs 1,85,200 crore.
The Road Construction Department under the Bihar government will serve as the nodal agency for the agreement, which will follow the Bihar Water Sources Restoration and Silt Management Policy 2026.