Patna: A review of road construction in Maoist-affected parts of Bihar has found that more than 1,800 kilometres of roads and dozens of bridges have been completed under a central government-backed connectivity scheme, officials said on Thursday.
The meeting, chaired by India’s Ministry of Rural Development, assessed progress under the Road Connectivity Project in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Areas. Pankaj Kumar Pal, secretary of Bihar’s road construction department, joined the discussions via video conferencing and presented the state’s latest progress report.
According to officials, around 1,814 kilometres of roads have been built across eight districts — Aurangabad, Gaya, Rohtas, Nawada, Muzaffarpur, Jamui, Banka and Lakhisarai. In addition, 72 bridges have been completed. Pankaj Pal said the newly built roads were in good condition and were being monitored regularly to ensure durability and safety.
Work on the remaining stretches is under way. Four additional roads covering about 24 kilometres and three bridges are yet to be completed, with authorities setting a target of March 2026 for their completion.
The project is seen as a key intervention in districts historically affected by Left Wing Extremism, where poor connectivity has long hindered development. Improved road networks are expected to strengthen economic activity, ease the movement of people and goods, and improve access to essential services such as healthcare and education. Officials said Bihar had made “notable progress” under the scheme, signalling the state’s push to accelerate infrastructure growth in vulnerable regions.
