The Revenue and Land Reforms Department of Bihar has issued strict instructions to expedite land acquisition for more than two dozen stalled road projects. To ensure that central funds do not lapse and timelines are met, the department has ordered officials to work in ‘War Mode.’ This directive comes directly from the Director of Land Acquisition, Kamlesh Kumar Singh.
Major Hurdles Facing Key Highway Projects
Several high-profile infrastructure projects are currently stuck due to religious structures, schools, and compensation disputes. For instance, the Sherpur-Dighwara bridge in Saran is facing alignment issues due to a temple, a mosque, and a school blocking a 580-meter stretch. Similarly, protests by landowners over compensation rates have stalled work in Purnia and Patna.
| Project Name | Location | Reason for Delay |
|---|---|---|
| NH-27 | Kishanganj | New alignment requires 4.5 km extra land |
| NH-139W | West Champaran | Acquisition of 79 km land pending |
| NH-119D | Patna | Landowners protesting acquisition |
Deadline and Administrative Action
District Magistrates (DMs) and Land Acquisition Officers have been tasked with coordinating with landowners to resolve payment disputes immediately. The government is keen to clear these hurdles as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has separately set a deadline of January 31, 2026, to clear pending land measurement applications. The focus is now on clearing the path for construction by resolving issues related to structures on the acquired land.
