The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and the Bihar government have signed an agreement to use excavated silt from rivers and water bodies in National Highway construction across the state.
Signed under the Nadi Sanjeevani initiative in New Delhi, the MoU was witnessed by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has identified a requirement for around 243 lakh cubic metres of silt for ongoing and proposed highway projects in Bihar.
Under the agreement, this quantity will be supplied free of cost for 16 ongoing National Highway projects. The initiative aims to reduce dependence on agricultural topsoil for construction while addressing silt accumulation in water bodies.
Bihar introduces silt management policy
Bihar is the first state in the country to introduce a comprehensive silt management policy, according to the report.
The initiative follows the Bihar Water Resource Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026. It aims to manage silt accumulation in rivers and water bodies through scientific desilting.
The policy also seeks to improve the carrying capacity of water bodies and reduce the use of naturally extracted topsoil for infrastructure development.
The agreement establishes an institutional framework for coordination between the Bihar government and NHAI. Its implementation will follow the state policy and applicable environmental and statutory provisions.
Road Construction Department to coordinate implementation
The Bihar government’s Road Construction Department (RCD) will serve as the nodal agency for the agreement.
The state government will facilitate mining licences under existing regulations wherever NHAI requires them for extracting the material.
Before its use in highway construction, the excavated silt will undergo appropriate testing to establish its quality and suitability.
The testing will follow applicable Ministry of Road Transport and Highways specifications and relevant Indian Roads Congress codes.
Excavated silt to support road levels and embankments
The processed and tested silt will be used in National Highway construction, including raising road levels and strengthening embankments.
The initiative is intended to link water body restoration with infrastructure development. It will also provide an alternative source of construction material for highway projects.
By coordinating desilting with the material requirements of highway construction, the agreement seeks to address two infrastructure needs through a common implementation framework.
