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Business
Bihar Expressway Construction Continues Amid Quality Concerns After PNC Ban
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patna
🗓 24 Sep 2026, 04:32 PM
👁 11
Around 30% of the Varanasi‑Ranchi‑Kolkata greenfield expressway is complete, but the ban on contractor PNC has sparked doubts over the work’s quality in Bihar.
The greenfield expressway linking Varanasi, Ranchi and Kolkata, which traverses Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, has reached roughly one‑third of its planned length. Construction crews have been laying pavement and erecting bridges along the Bihar stretch, aiming to speed up regional connectivity.
The project’s main contractor, PNC Infrastructure, was recently barred from further work by authorities in Uttar Pradesh over alleged irregularities. Although the ban applies to new contracts in UP, the Bihar segment remains under the same contractor, prompting scrutiny from state officials.
Local residents and transport experts have voiced concerns that the halted oversight could affect the structural integrity of the already built sections. They are urging the Bihar government to conduct independent quality audits before allowing the work to proceed.
State officials have said they are reviewing the situation and may re‑tender the remaining work if the audits reveal deficiencies. The expressway is expected to be fully operational by the mid‑2020s, provided the quality issues are addressed.
The project’s main contractor, PNC Infrastructure, was recently barred from further work by authorities in Uttar Pradesh over alleged irregularities. Although the ban applies to new contracts in UP, the Bihar segment remains under the same contractor, prompting scrutiny from state officials.
Local residents and transport experts have voiced concerns that the halted oversight could affect the structural integrity of the already built sections. They are urging the Bihar government to conduct independent quality audits before allowing the work to proceed.
State officials have said they are reviewing the situation and may re‑tender the remaining work if the audits reveal deficiencies. The expressway is expected to be fully operational by the mid‑2020s, provided the quality issues are addressed.