Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday inaugurated the strengthening and management of 6,938 rural roads covering 12,105 km across the state under an ambitious Rs 8,716 crore programme. The inauguration, held remotely from his official residence, marks a significant push toward ensuring year-round safe and durable road connectivity for rural Bihar.
Speaking at the event, CM Nitish said the initiative would not only reduce the gap between villages and urban centres but also inject fresh momentum into the state’s rural economy. “The construction and maintenance of rural roads are not just about infrastructure; they are reshaping the social and economic landscape of Bihar,” he said, urging officials to complete urgent repair work before the monsoon.
The programme, part of the state’s Rural Road Strengthening and Management initiative under the Chief Minister Rural Road Upgradation Scheme, aims to systematically upgrade and maintain all rural roads that have completed their five-year defect liability period. According to the Rural Works Department, these roads will undergo resurfacing twice over the next seven years to ensure service quality. Any technical faults identified during the period must be resolved promptly, officials added.
A presentation by Rural Works Department Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Singh outlined the scope of the programme. Singh informed that the state government has approved Rs 21,733 crore for the strengthening of 14,087 roads, covering 24,482 km in the 2024-25 financial year. The initiative will include roads and bridges built under various schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana and the Chief Minister Rural Bridge Scheme.
CM Nitish also highlighted the long-term goal of enabling travel from any remote village to Patna within four hours, a vision he said would be made possible through the sustained development of rural road networks and strategic widening where needed.
The event saw the release of a short film and a booklet documenting the achievements of the Rural Works Department. Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with senior ministers, officials, and engineers, were present at the ceremony.
