Ranchi, July 2: Indian Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari will inaugurate two major road infrastructure projects in the eastern state of Jharkhand on July 3, officials said on Monday, in a move aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving regional connectivity.
The headline project is the inauguration of the Shankha–Khajuri section of the Ranchi–Varanasi National Highway, also known as the Garhwa Bypass. The 1,100-crore rupee ($132 million) project is part of a broader highway development effort connecting Jharkhand with eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Gadkari will also open the long-pending Ratu Road flyover in Ranchi, expected to ease traffic congestion in one of the capital city’s most heavily used corridors.
The Ranchi–Varanasi National Highway is being developed in six phases. The first phase, between Ranchi and Kuru, has been completed. The newly completed Shankha–Khajuri stretch marks the second phase of the project.
The remaining phases are under construction or scheduled:
- Phase 3 (Khajuri to Vindhamganj, UP) – Target completion: September 15; Cost: ₹1,436.49 crore
- Phase 4 (Bhogu to Shankha) – Target completion: November 9, 2025; Cost: ₹1,517.87 crore
- Phase 5 (Udaipur to Bhogu) – Target completion: October 9, 2026; Cost: ₹1,436.80 crore
- Phase 6 (Kuru to Udaipura) – To begin in September 2025; Estimated cost: ₹1,274 crore
Once fully operational, the highway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, facilitating faster movement of goods and people and boosting economic activity in the region.
The ministry said the Garhwa Bypass will enhance logistics efficiency and support regional development, especially in rural and semi-urban areas that have historically lacked reliable road connectivity.
