Cabinet Approves Upgrade of NH-22 Section in Bihar

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the four-laning and upgradation of the 82.578 km Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa section of National Highway-22 in Bihar on 19 August 2026. The project will be executed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode at a total capital cost of ₹3,590.73 crore. The corridor connects Muzaffarpur with the India-Nepal border at Sonbarsa through Sitamarhi.

Project Alignment and Route Features

The upgraded highway serves as a feeder route to NH-27 and links Sonbarsa with major commercial centres in Muzaffarpur. The corridor has been designed for a maximum speed of 100 kmph and an average operating speed of 80 kmph. The project design includes no at-grade median openings for uninterrupted traffic movement.

Engineering Components and Structures

The project includes seven major bridges, three railway overbridges, and two flyovers. One bridge will span 340 metres over the Bagmati River, which is a perennial river in Bihar. The two flyovers will measure 1,170 metres and 270 metres.

Important Facts for Exams

• Hybrid Annuity Mode is a public-private partnership model used in highway development in India.
• National Highway-22 is a numbered national highway in India and forms part of the national road network.
• PM GatiShakti National Master Plan is a multi-modal infrastructure planning framework of the Government of India.
• The Bagmati River flows through Bihar and is associated with flood-prone plains in north Bihar.

Economic and Connectivity Context

The corridor covers five economic nodes, including four industrial estates and one mega food park. The project is linked with multimodal connectivity under the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan. The route also provides access to Baba Garibnath Temple, Mata Janki Temple, Janaki Punaura Dham Temple, and the Buddhist Circuit.