**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 197, answered on February 12, 2026, regarding the construction of a bypass in Machhlishahar. It addresses the widening of National Highway (NH)-31 and NH-731B, compensation to affected farmers, provisions for service roads and underpasses, and plans for upgrading the highway to six lanes. The Minister of Road Transport and Highways provided a statement to the House detailing the current status and future plans.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Highway Widening and Bypass:**
* NH-31 (old NH-231) and NH-731B pass through Machhlishahar town.
* NH-731B is being widened to a 2-lane highway with a paved shoulder from Machhlishahar to Bhadohi.
* A bypass to the Machhlishahar area is not proposed under this current project.
* A 4-lane bypass of Machhlishahar town with a length of 3.8 km was constructed and completed in February 2016 as part of the widening of the Raebareli to Jaunpur section of NH-31 (old NH-231) to 2-lane with paved shoulder under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) Phase-IV.
* **Land Acquisition and Compensation:**
* Approximately 54 Hectare of land is proposed for acquisition in Machhlishahar tehsil, Jaunpur district.
* About Rs. 105 crore has been awarded towards land acquisition by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA).
* **Service Roads, Underpasses, and Future Upgrades:**
* The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways continuously assesses the need for upgrades, underpasses, and service roads.
* Investment decisions are based on site conditions, traffic density, and alignment with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
* Upgrading the highway stretch to six lanes is currently not under consideration.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Residents and Commuters of Machhlishahar and Surrounding Areas**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved connectivity with the widening of NH-731B. However, a new bypass is not currently planned.
* **Action Required:** No immediate action required. Information about future infrastructure developments will be provided as decisions are made.
**Stakeholder: Farmers in Machhlishahar Tehsil, Jaunpur District**
* **Impact:** Directly impacted by the land acquisition process for highway widening.
* **Action Required:** Ensure proper documentation and communication with the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) to receive due compensation for acquired land.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highway-31: A national highway being widened and improved as part of a project, specifically focusing on the Raebareli-Jaunpur section and construction of a bypass in Machhlishahar area.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The central ministry responsible for the project concerning the construction of bypass and widening of the national highway.
Machhlishahar: The location where the construction of bypass is being proposed and where land acquisition is taking place for highway expansion.
National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) Phase-IV: A national program under which highway widening from Raebareli to Jaunpur of NH-31 (old NH-231) was done.
PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan: A national infrastructure plan considered when upgrading highways, under which decision of investment is taken based on site condition, traffic density and synergy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 197
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
CONSTRUCTION OF BYPASS IN MACHHLISHAHAR
*197. SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the construction work of the proposed widening of existing
highway or construction of bypass in the Machhlishahar area, under the 2-lane
paved shoulder project or greenfield bypass package of National Highway-31,
Raebareli–Jaunpur section (old National Highway-231), has commenced as per
the prescribed timeline and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether full disbursement of compensation to the affected farmers of
Machhlishahar tehsil in Jaunpur district has been ensured in accordance with
the revised circle rates of 2025 during the widening of the said National
Highway and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether provision has been made for service roads and underpasses to
connect the Machhlishahar area with the National Highway and if so, the
details thereof; and
(d) the future plan to upgrade this stretch into a six-lane highway?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 197 ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY
SHRI BABU SINGH KUSHWAHA REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF BYPASS IN
MACHHLISHAHAR.
(a) National Highway(NH)-31 (old NH-231) and NH-731B passes through
Machhlishahar town. NH 731B is being widened to 2-lane with paved shoulder
from Machhlishahar to Bhadohi. The bypass to Machhlishahar area is not
proposed under this project.
During the widening of section from Raebareli to Jaunpur of NH-31 (old
NH-231) to 2-lane with paved shoulder under National Highways Development
Programme (NHDP) Phase-IV, 4-lane bypass of Machhlishahar town having a
length of 3.8 km was constructed and work was completed in February, 2016.
(b) In the ongoing work in Machhlishahar tehsil in Jaunpur district, about 54
Hectare land is proposed for acquisition and awarded about Rs.105 crore
towards land acquisition by the Competent Authority for Land Acquisition
(CALA) so far.
(c) & (d) Government in Ministry of Road Transport & Highways keeps on
assessing the requirement of upgradation/underpass/service road and decision
on investment is taken based on site condition, traffic density and synergy
with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. The proposal for upgradation of this
stretch into 6-lane highway is not under consideration.
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