The Union Cabinet has approved a ₹6,969.04 crore four-lane highway project in Uttar Pradesh, connecting Barabanki to Bahraich. The 102-km access-controlled highway will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) to address geometric deficiencies and improve connectivity.
The project includes 48.28km of bypasses, easing local traffic and serving as a key cross-border trade route to Nepal via the Nepalganj border. It will connect three economic nodes, including a Special Economic Zone and two mega food parks, along with two social nodes and 12 logistics nodes.
The project is expected to generate 3.654 million person-days of direct jobs and 4.304 million person-days of indirect employment. It includes a six-lane mega bridge over the Ghaghra River and will improve connectivity to Shravasti Airport and key Buddhist tourist and pilgrimage sites.
The travel time on this highway, currently three hours, will be reduced to one hour, providing a significant benefit. The project will enhance regional connectivity and boost economic activity by improving access to transport infrastructure and key destinations in the region.
