Project Overview

The Amas Darbhanga Expressway (NH-119D) is Bihar's first greenfield expressway project. It is an under-construction project by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under Bharatmala Pariyojna Phase I. The 189-kilometre, four-lane expressway runs north to south through the heart of Bihar, connecting Amas village in Gaya District with Bela Nawada in Darbhanga District across seven districts. 

Once operational, it will reduce the travel time between Gaya in southern Bihar and Darbhanga in northern Bihar from five to six hours to approximately four hours. The project is being executed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), under which NHAI pays 40 percent of the project cost during construction and the balance through biannual annuity payments over the concession period.

Contracts were awarded to three construction companies in March 2022, with Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) executing three packages totaling 150 km. The expressway is expected to be completed by December 2026.

Furthermore, it integrates with the Kachhi Dargah–Bidupur Bridge, a 9.75 km structure under separate NHAI construction that will carry the expressway across the Ganga River at Patna. This bridge, once complete, will be one of the longest river bridges in India. The expressway also utilises portions of the Patna Outer Ring Road, which is under concurrent construction. 

NHAI has described NH-119D as a transformational economic corridor for the region. It improves freight movement, reduces logistical costs for agricultural produce, and enables faster passenger travel across Bihar's two most distinct demographic zones: the Buddhist-heritage south and the Mithila-culture north. 

Technical Specifications

Project Background

Bharatmala Pariyojna, approved by the Union Cabinet in October 2017, included Bihar-specific expressway corridors to address this infrastructure gap. NH-119D was identified as the primary north-south corridor for Bihar under Phase I. 

The Detailed Project Report was prepared by SA Infrastructure Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Land acquisition across seven districts in Bihar began in 2020 under the National Highways Act, 1956. 

The expressway was formally identified as NH-119D via Gazette SO 1043(E) on 4 March 2021. Financial bids were opened in March 2022, and contracts were awarded to three construction companies, with Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd (MEIL) securing the largest share, three packages covering 150 km of the 189 km route.

NHAI set a 24-month construction deadline per package, implying a completion target of early 2024 for the first packages. Land acquisition, described as 'almost complete' in 2022, proceeded across seven districts in a state where agricultural land holdings are complex and fragmented. 

The 2024 completion target was not met. Land acquisition delays in some districts slowed mobilisation. Construction across all packages was underway by 2023 but advanced more slowly than planned across the Patna–Gaya section. 

Stakeholder Details

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Current Status

The Amas Darbhanga Expressway (NH-119D) is currently under construction, with approximately 25% of the work done in January 2026. The construction is actively progressing across all four packages. 

Recent reports from April 2026 show visible embankment work, PQC progress, major bridge construction over the Budhi Gandak River (960m, 24 spans), and development of flyovers, underpasses, and a trumpet interchange near NH-27 in Package IV, while Package III faces some delays due to land acquisition challenges. 

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Completion Date

Connecting Aurangabad, Gaya, Patna, and Darbhanga across seven districts in Bihar, the Amas Darbhanga Expressway is now expected to open for traffic by December 2026. It got delayed from the initial March 2025 & 2024 timelines due to approval & construction delays.

In May 2026, a BJP leader urged officials to expedite work, highlighting the ongoing push to meet the December 2026 target for Bihar's first greenfield expressway, which will significantly improve connectivity to Darbhanga, Patna, and Gaya airports and link to major highways like NH-27. 

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Route

The Amas Darbhanga Expressway starts from Amas in the Gaya District, along NH-19 (Delhi Kolkata Expressway), and ends at Bela Nawada in Darbhanga along NH-27, connecting the Aurangabad-Gaya belt with Mithila’s largest urban center.  

The expressway passes through seven major districts, including Aurangabad, Gaya, Jehanabad, Patna, Vaishali, Samastipur, and Darbhanga. In Patna, it crosses the Ganga through the six-lane Kachhi Dargah-Bidupur bridge, a link vital to the route’s long-term utility. 

The expressway passes through one of India's most important heritage and pilgrimage corridors. Gaya and Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha attained enlightenment, lie near the southern terminus. The route traverses the Gangetic plains of Bihar, crossing rivers and the agricultural heartland. When extended in the future to Jaynagar on the Nepal border, the expressway will provide a continuous corridor from the Nepal frontier to the Delhi-Kolkata Expressway.

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Villages Covered

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Project Cost

The total estimated cost for the Amas Darbhanga Expressway has not been disclosed. 

Project Scope

The following is the project scope of the Amas Darbhanga Expressway:

• Toll Infrastructure Development: It includes the construction of Ramnagar Toll Plaza & other additional Toll Plazas.
  

• Wayside Amenities (WSA): The project involves the development of Wayside Amenities along the route.
  

• Improved airport connectivity: Better access to Darbhanga Airport, Patna Airport, and Gaya Airport.
  

• Elevated corridor construction: From Darbhanga Railway Station to Amas Darbhanga Expressway via upgradation to a 2/4-lane corridor.
  

• Cross-Border Trade: Planned extension to Nepal for cross-border trade, boosting future regional connectivity.
  

Major Infrastructure Development

It involves the construction of: 

1. Embankments and PQC (Premium Quality Concrete) road surfaces

2. Major bridges (including a 960 m, 24-span bridge over the Budhi Gandak River)

3. Flyovers and underpasses

4. Trumpet interchange near NH-27

5. Railway Over Bridges (ROB)                 

Project Timeline

Amas Darbhanga Expressway Packages & Contractors

Benefits

The following are the benefits of the Amas Darbhanga Expressway:

• Strengthens North-South Connectivity: It strengthens north-south connectivity by directly connecting northern and southern Bihar, reducing regional imbalance.
  

• Reduces Travel Time: Upon completion, the Amas Darbhanga Expressway will reduce travel time from 5-6 hours to just 4 hours between the Gaya & Darbhanga regions. 
  

• Boost Trade & Economy: It boosts trade & economy in the region by enhancing logistics, transportation, and business opportunities across 7 districts.  
  

• Generates Employment Opportunities: It creates multiple job opportunities for locals through construction work and long-term economic development. 
  

• Provides International Tourism: The proximity to Bodh Gaya, visited by approximately 1 million pilgrims and tourists annually, gives the expressway's southern end significant international tourism infrastructure value.

Conclusion

The Amas Darbhanga Expressway is an 189 km long greenfield expressway developed by NHAI. The project connects Amas to Darbhanga in such a way that it bridges the long-standing connectivity gap between northern and southern Bihar. The future expansion includes a proposed northward extension from Darbhanga to Jaynagar on the Nepal border. 

The expressway substantially benefits the region by reducing travel time to 4 hours and improving access to three major airports, namely Darbhanga, Patna, & Gaya. With future plans for extension to Nepal, the project also holds strategic importance for cross-border connectivity.

The Amas Darbhanga Expressway stands as a game-changer for Bihar's infrastructure landscape, promising to redefine regional balance, enhance mobility, and catalyze economic development across the state for decades to come. 

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