3000 KM OF ROADS WILL BE CONVERTED INTO STATE HIGHWAY

3000 KM OF ROADS WILL BE CONVERTED INTO STATE HIGHWAY

15-FEB-ENG 5

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA-------------------------To strengthen the road network in Bihar, the government will convert 3,000 km of district roads into state highways. This will boost Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "Patna in Three Hours" vision.

The state government is taking a major step towards strengthening the road network in Bihar. Many major district roads in the state will now be converted into state highways. Under this plan, preparations are underway to declare approximately 3,000 km of Major District Roads (MDRs) as state highways. This decision is expected to make travel in the state faster, safer, and smoother.

The Bihar government is working on a comprehensive plan to improve the transportation infrastructure. Keeping in mind Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "Patna in Three Hours" vision, the Road Construction Department has prioritized this project. The government's goal is to make it easier and faster to reach the capital, Patna, from any district in the state.

Road Construction Minister Dilip Jaiswal stated that increasing the length of state highways will relieve people from traffic jams and also accelerate freight and commercial transportation. Currently, Bihar has the longest length of major district roads, while the length of state highways is relatively short. In recent years, many state highways were upgraded to national highways, resulting in a shrinking of the state highway network. The government is now implementing a new scheme to address this imbalance.

According to government data, the total length of national highways in Bihar is approximately 6,392 kilometers, while the length of state highways is only 3,617 kilometers. Experts believe that a strong state highway network is essential for improved connectivity within the state. This scheme will facilitate inter-district travel and accelerate the development of rural areas.

Strict standards will be followed to grant roads state highway status. According to the Road Construction Department, road construction and design will be based on the guidelines of the Indian Road Congress. Only roads that connect the capital to district headquarters, serve as a link between two national highways, or provide direct connectivity between major cities will be selected.

The width of new state highways will be at least two lanes, approximately seven to seven and a half meters. Furthermore, in anticipation of future road widening needs, land acquisition will be ensured in advance. This will ensure that traffic flow remains unaffected despite future increases.

It is reported that the department had previously prepared a list of some roads, but during a high-level review, several roads failed to meet the prescribed standards, after which the list was returned. The department is now preparing a new list, which will be finalized only after rigorous scrutiny. The government believes that the implementation of this scheme will strengthen Bihar's internal road network and accelerate the state's overall development.