Patna: Bihar is set to borrow Rs 21,000 crore from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to fund road and bridge projects across the state, including schemes announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar during his Pragati Yatra.
The Road Construction Department signed a memorandum of understanding with NABARD on Friday in the presence of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary.
Pankaj Kumar Pal, Secretary of the Road Construction Department, and Shaji Krishnan V, Chairman of NABARD, signed the agreement at the Sankalp auditorium at the Public Servants’ Residence complex.
Projects Across North And South Bihar
The loan will be used to implement road and infrastructure schemes announced during Nitish Kumar’s Pragati Yatra. According to the Road Construction Department, projects worth Rs 13,142 crore have been sanctioned for North Bihar, while schemes worth Rs 30,000 crore have been approved for South Bihar.
The state cabinet has already approved the projects, which include 42 schemes in North Bihar and 64 in South Bihar.
Among the major projects are elevated roads, bypasses, ring roads and road-widening schemes intended to improve connectivity and ease congestion in major urban centres.
JP Ganga Path Extension Among Key Projects
The proposed projects include extending the JP Ganga Path to Koilwar via Bihta and its eastward extension from Didarganj to Mokama.
The Road Construction Department has decided to execute the JP Ganga Path extension towards Koilwar using the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
Other major schemes include elevated roads in Patna, Rohtas and Darbhanga, along with bypasses in several towns and cities.
Projects highlighted by the department include:
- Four-laning of the Bihta-Maner route
- An elevated road near Patna Airport
- Ara Ring Road
- Widening of the Ara-Babura-Chhapra route
- Piro bypass
- Madhubani ring road
- Mirganj bypass in Gopalganj
- An elevated corridor between Digha and Maner
NABARD Pledges Continued Support
Speaking at the MoU signing, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said Bihar was receiving significant support from NABARD for its development and expressed hope that the partnership would continue.
NABARD chairman Shaji Krishnan said Bihar was developing rapidly and that the bank would extend all possible support for the state’s infrastructure development.
On the occasion, the Chief Minister released a booklet titled ‘NABARD in Bihar’, highlighting the institution’s role in the state’s development.
