A major relief is on its way for people living around Dhanbad in Jharkhand. The Digwadih-Sindri-Balliapur-Govindpur road is now set on the path to becoming a National Highway, with the central government kicking off the process to bring it under the National Highway construction programme.
Gadkari writes to Dhanbad MP
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has written to Dhanbad MP Dhullu Mahto on the matter. In his letter, he informed the MP that the ministry has already begun the necessary action on this road project, and that instructions have been issued to the concerned officials to move the process forward.
MP's December proposal clears ministry's review
According to the letter, MP Dhullu Mahto had sent a proposal to the ministry on December 3, 2025, seeking National Highway status for this stretch. The ministry carried out a detailed review of the proposal. The review found that the proposed road already links up with three major National Highways, NH-18, NH-218 and NH-19. Given how central this route is to regional connectivity and the daily movement of people in the area, it was found to hold particular importance.
What it takes to become a National Highway
Gadkari's letter also spelt out the benchmarks the central government applies before declaring any new National Highway. These include the volume of traffic on the route, the state of freight and passenger movement, the area's socio-economic significance, its tourism potential, and how well it connects with the existing National Highway network. The Digwadih-Sindri-Balliapur-Govindpur stretch was found to meet all of these benchmarks, following which instructions were issued to include it in the National Highway programme on a priority basis.
MP calls it a lifeline for the region
MP Dhullu Mahto welcomed the decision, saying the road will prove to be a lifeline for lakhs of people in and around Dhanbad, Sindri, Balliapur and Govindpur. He said that once the stretch is developed into a National Highway, travel across the region will become far easier. He added that this will give a fresh push to industrial activity at the local level, boost trade, and open up new employment opportunities for the youth. Dhullu Mahto expressed confidence that with the central government's support, infrastructure in Dhanbad will be strengthened further and that this pace of development will continue in the days ahead.
