Archive · 2 Aug 2026
Bengal Seeks NHAI Takeover of 1,500 km State Highways
West Bengal is a state in India that has a lot of roads.
The state wants the national government to take over about 1,500 kilometers of its roads.
This will let the national government give money and help finish the roads faster.
A group of state officials, led by Dr. Ajay Poddar, will go to New Delhi to talk with the national road ministry.
They will discuss many big road projects that are worth more than 71,000 crore rupees.
The state hopes to make its roads grow three to four times faster in the next five years, like some other big states.
The plan also aims to improve trade, tourism, and military movement.
The meeting is part of a series of talks to speed up road building in West Bengal.
West Bengal seeks to transfer about 1,500 km of state highways to NHAI to speed up road development.
A delegation led by PWD Minister Dr. Ajay Poddar will meet Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on Aug 4-5 in New Delhi.
The transfer covers roughly one-third of the state's 4,505 km highway network.
Projects worth over Rs 71,000 crore, including NH-31, NH-33, NH-317A, NH-717, NH-110, NH-312, NH-10, are pending and will be fast‑tracked.
The goal is to achieve 3‑4 times growth in highway connectivity over the next five years, matching states like Uttar Pradesh.
- Who
- West Bengal state government and Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
- What
- Transfer of about 1,500 km of state highways to NHAI to accelerate road development
- When
- August 4-5, 2024
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To speed up road infrastructure development, secure central funding, and achieve 3-4 times growth in connectivity
- State
- West Bengal
- Total highway network
- 4,505 km
- Proposed transfer
- 1,500 km
- Target growth
- 3-4 times in 5 years
- Pending projects value
- Rs 71,000 crore