Patna: The state rural works department has begun installing retro-reflective traffic signs across rural roads in an effort to reduce accidents in accident-prone areas and improve visibility for motorists.
The move comes after a recent direction issued to the officials to identify stretches where drivers’ line of sight is obstructed and ensure that reflective signage is installed at all such locations. As per the direction, installation of the signages has been made mandatory as part of a broader road safety initiative.
Under the recent directive, officials have been instructed to ensure the construction of zebra crossings on rural roads, along with installation of village name boards, kilometre stones and 200-metre markers.
The decisions were reviewed during a departmental meeting chaired by the rural works department secretary, Divesh Sehra, where officials were told to take strict action against contractors and officers found negligent in carrying out departmental work.
Engineers and nodal officers associated with various state infrastructure schemes attended the meeting at the department headquarters. Officials said the government was intensifying monitoring mechanisms at all levels to improve the quality of infrastructure in rural areas across the state.
The department also ordered that information related to the “Hamara Bihar Hamari Sadak” mobile application be displayed prominently on information boards along all departmental roads by May 31.
In a parallel push for transparency, the department directed officials to take stringent action against bidders found using forged documents in the tendering process. Contractors who failed to sign agreements after receiving letters of acceptance since December 2025 are to be blacklisted and face legal action, according to the instructions issued during the meeting.
Authorities were also asked to seek explanations from contractors who submitted unusually low bids without providing rate justification, with further action to be taken in accordance with regulations.
The direction mentioned that completed projects would undergo quality inspections as part of efforts to strengthen oversight. Officials added that the quality control cell would be further reinforced to ensure adherence to construction standards across rural infrastructure projects.
