Patna: Bihar has achieved a significant milestone in rural development by becoming the first state in India to extend paved roads to hamlets with fewer than 1,000 residents. The initiative, part of the Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana (Remaining), is transforming rural life by connecting even the smallest settlements to the broader transport network.
Under the scheme, the Rural Works Department surveyed 11,020 villages and identified 14,002 km of roads requiring construction to connect leftover settlements. So far, 1,344 settlements have been connected with all-weather paved roads, covering a total length of 1,486.71 km.
Previously, only settlements with a population of 1,000 or more were included in the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. Recognising the importance of smaller villages, the Bihar government launched the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Yojana in 2005-06, initially connecting hamlets with populations of 500 to 999. This was followed by the Chief Minister Gram Sadak Sampark Yojana in 2013-14 and the Gramin Tola Sampark Nischay Yojana under the Seven Nischay Part-1 programme in 2016-17, which provided paved roads to hamlets with 100 to 149 residents.
These continuous efforts have resulted in more than 1,19,000 km of rural roads constructed across the state, benefiting over 1,20,000 settlements with perennial connectivity.
The Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana (Remaining), launched in 2023, focuses specifically on the smallest hamlets with populations of around 100. Districts with the highest connectivity under the scheme include:
- Kaimur: 147 settlements, 128.59 km of roads
- Aurangabad: 137 settlements, 139.59 km of roads
- East Champaran: 121 settlements, 196.72 km of roads
- Gayaji: 69 settlements, 96.97 km of roads
- Banka: 83 settlements, 95.76 km of roads
- Rohtas: 68 settlements, 50.97 km of roads
- Jamui: 54 settlements, 72.75 km of roads
Officials say that providing all-weather road access to the smallest hamlets is expected to accelerate development by improving access to markets, healthcare, and education, and fostering greater economic and social integration across Bihar’s rural landscape.
