NHAI will dig up rivers to build highways: 1,078 lakh cubic metres of silt identified to tackle Bihar floods & speed up roadwork

In a move that aims to tackle Bihar's recurring floods while speeding up highway construction, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will undertake desilting of rivers and water bodies across the state and use the excavated silt and sand as construction material for national highway projects. The initiative, called 'Nadi Sanjivani', is part of an agreement signed between the road transport ministry and the Bihar government on Tuesday. Under the framework, highway agencies will bear the cost of dredging and use the excavated material for road construction. The initiative is expected to serve a dual purpose: improve the flow of rivers by removing accumulated silt and provide construction material for highway development without having to transport it from distant locations.

Nadi Sanjivani initiative: 1,078 lakh cubic metres of silt identified for road projects

Under the agreement, around 243 lakh cubic metres of silt will be utilised in 16 ongoing national highway projects in Bihar. Another 835 lakh cubic metres has been proposed for use in 27 upcoming highway projects.

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The large-scale desilting exercise is expected to make construction material more readily available to highway developers while addressing the accumulation of sediment in riverbeds. At present, highway construction agencies often have to source soil and other materials from distant locations, increasing transportation costs and delaying project execution.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari described the initiative as an opportunity to turn a recurring problem into an infrastructure resource.

"The silt that was the cause of floods until yesterday will now become the foundation for development," Gadkari said after the agreement was signed.

Why Bihar faces recurring floods: Silt deposition in rivers

Bihar has long faced recurring floods, particularly during the monsoon, as rivers flowing from Nepal and the Himalayan region carry large quantities of sediment into the state. The deposition of silt raises riverbeds and can affect their water-carrying capacity, increasing the risk of flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.

The Nadi Sanjivani framework aims to address this challenge through systematic desilting, while ensuring that the excavated material is put to productive use in infrastructure development.

Gadkari also suggested that the initiative could serve as a model for other states, allowing them to obtain construction material through the dredging of rivers and water bodies.

Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary flags Nepal's role in state's flood problem

Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary highlighted the state's vulnerability to floods and the resulting damage to farmers, agricultural land, livelihoods and infrastructure.

"Bihar doesn't face destruction because of its water but because of water from neighbouring nations and other states. Seven prominent rivers from Nepal pass through Bihar and if it rains in Nepal, Bihar faces destruction... There was more than 32% less rain this year, but the highest flood level (HFL) changed in three major rivers. HFL of Ganga was maximum in the past 200 years," he said.

Choudhary said the changing flood levels indicated significant silt deposition in rivers and added that the state government had quickly accepted Gadkari's proposal for desilting.

NHAI explains how river desilting could speed up highway construction

NHAI chairman Santosh Yadav said the initiative could address one of the major constraints faced by highway construction agencies in Bihar: the availability of soil for embankment work.

He pointed out that shortages of construction material can hold up embankment development and delay the completion of highway projects. Using excavated silt and sand from nearby rivers could help reduce these supply-related challenges.

Yadav estimated that a one-year delay in ongoing highway projects in Bihar could result in around Rs 2,000 crore in additional civil construction costs and a loss of approximately Rs 2,800 crore in toll remittances.

Nadi Sanjivani: How the initiative could benefit Bihar

The Nadi Sanjivani framework is designed to link flood management with infrastructure development. By removing accumulated sediment from rivers and using it in highway construction, the initiative seeks to reduce the burden of sourcing construction material from distant locations while improving river flow.

If implemented effectively, the initiative could help address two major challenges facing Bihar: recurring floods and delays in highway construction. It could also offer a model for other states looking to combine river rejuvenation with infrastructure development.


Inputs from TOI