Patna: The Bihar government has made a significant leap in strengthening rural infrastructure by providing all-weather road connectivity to over 1.19 lakh settlements across the state. In a major development, a total of 1,18,511 kilometres of rural roads have been constructed so far, ensuring improved access to even the remotest villages.
Initially, under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the focus was on connecting villages with a population of 1,000 or more. However, Bihar expanded this vision in 2006–07 by launching the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana, aiming to reach settlements with populations between 500 and 999. Subsequently, villages with at least 250 residents in 11 insurgency-affected districts and those with 500 or more in other regions were brought under the PMGSY.
In 2013–14, the government further broadened the initiative with the Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana, targeting all settlements with populations of 250 or more. Under PMGSY alone, 53,283 km of roads have been built, connecting 57,102 settlements. An additional 64,926 km have been constructed under various other schemes, including the Gramin Tola Sampark Nishchay Yojana, reaching another 63,174 settlements.
To ensure no village is left behind, the state introduced the Mukhyamantri Gramin Sampark Yojana (Remaining) in 2023. The programme aims to connect settlements with populations as low as 100. As of the latest review, 13,814 such habitations remain unconnected. Road construction has already been approved for 3,494 of them, covering 3,734 km at a projected cost of Rs 4,462.49 crore. By 2025–26, the government aims to approve connectivity to a further 1,800 settlements, accounting for an additional 4,500 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs 5,900 crore.
To maintain road quality, all roads under the current scheme will be serviced for six years following construction, with a re-blackening provision scheduled in the fifth year to ensure long-term usability for rural residents.
