BIHAR’S DEVELOPMENT ROADMAP GETS FUEL, FLOOD AND INFRASTRUCTURE FOCUS AT INVESTOR SUMMIT

October 1, 2026

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has defended India’s ethanol-blending programme while outlining a broader development strategy for Bihar centred on agricultural diversification, infrastructure investment and large-scale water management.

Speaking at the Bihar Investor Summit 2026, Gadkari rejected claims that ethanol-blended petrol was damaging vehicles. He said millions of cars and two-wheelers had been operating on blended fuel since 2022 and argued that ethanol had created an additional market for agricultural produce.

Gadkari said the policy was also intended to reduce India’s dependence on imported petroleum while creating new income opportunities for farmers. He highlighted the growing use of maize for ethanol production and said Bihar and Uttar Pradesh farmers had gained additional earnings from the expansion of the ethanol market.

Looking beyond road transport, the minister said Bihar could play a greater role in emerging technologies, including the production of aviation fuel from agricultural waste. He also pointed to waste-to-energy projects, including the conversion of organic waste into compressed natural gas, as potential areas for future investment.

Flood management formed another major part of Gadkari’s proposals. He advocated a comprehensive water grid for Bihar, similar in concept to national highway and power grids, allowing excess water to be transferred between river basins. He also proposed large-scale river dredging to increase water-carrying capacity and reduce flood risks.

Gadkari said the National Highways Authority of India could undertake dredging and use the recovered silt as construction material for highways, subject to the Bihar government establishing an appropriate policy framework. He also suggested that deeper waterways could support inland navigation and reduce logistics costs.

The minister highlighted major highway investments in Bihar, putting the value of completed, ongoing and proposed road projects at around ₹3.85 lakh crore. He said improved connectivity could strengthen tourism, trade, industry and investment across the state.

The Bihar government has been seeking new private investment across sectors, while the state continues to face recurring flood challenges. Gadkari's proposals therefore combine transport infrastructure, alternative fuels, agricultural diversification and water management as interconnected elements of Bihar's longer-term economic development strategy.