BIHAR’S RURAL ROADS ENTER A ‘GOLDEN PHASE’

BIHAR’S RURAL ROADS ENTER A ‘GOLDEN PHASE’

6-DEC-ENG 4

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

PATNA----------------------------With the help of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), approximately 80 percent of the network of rural roads and bridges being constructed in Bihar has been completed. The construction of the remaining less than 20 percent of roads and bridges is also in its final stages. The construction of a large number of rural roads in the state has not only transformed the landscape of the villages but is also continuously reducing the distance between remote villages and cities.

These newly constructed roads and bridges are giving a new impetus to the state's development and rural economy. The government is spending a total of Rs 5989 crore on this scheme. The Rural Works Department has released a district-wise progress report on the construction of roads sanctioned in various districts under the state plan with the cooperation of NABARD. According to this report, in 2023, the department had given administrative approval for the construction of a total of 2025 rural roads in the state, of which 1876 roads have been completed. The total length of these 2025 roads is 5254 kilometers, of which 4835 kilometers of roads have been completed.

Similarly, along with rural roads, a total of 1239 bridges are also being constructed in the state with the cooperation of NABARD, of which 936 bridges have been completed so far. The construction of the remaining 303 bridges is also in its final stages and will be completed in the next few months.

According to the information provided by the Rural Works Department, Nalanda district is at the forefront in the construction of rural roads, where a total of 214 roads were sanctioned, of which 200 roads have been completed. More than 370 kilometers of roads have been constructed in Nalanda, while the target is to construct 396 kilometers of roads. Similarly, 67 bridges were to be constructed in Nalanda, of which 60 have been completed and vehicles are now plying on them.

In Gaya, against the approved construction of 129 roads, 121 roads have been completed. The target was to construct a total of 395 km of roads in Gaya, and so far 365 km of roads have been completed.  Out of 57 bridges under construction in Gaya, 46 have been completed.

Meanwhile, in Patna district, approval was given for the construction of 167 rural roads, of which 157 have been completed. A target of constructing a total of 363 km of rural roads was set for Patna, and against this target, 329 km of roads have been constructed. Out of 54 bridges under construction in the rural areas of Patna, 46 have been completed.