Patna : Bihar is set for a substantial enhancement to its rural infrastructure, with the Centre approving projects worth Rs367.94 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY-III) for the 2024–25 financial year. The funding will support the construction of 103 bridges and 33.65km of roads, improving connectivity in some of the state’s most underserved areas.
The announcement forms part of a broader push to make rural Bihar more accessible and economically integrated, in line with chief minister Nitish Kumar’s longstanding focus on improving the state’s road network.
According to the Rural Works Department, the new projects will improve all-weather access between villages and nearby markets, schools, healthcare centres and administrative blocks—creating what officials describe as “pathways for opportunity”.
“Roads are not just about getting from point A to B,” a senior department official said. “For many villages, a bridge can mean the difference between isolation and integration.”
Of the sanctioned funds, Rs214 crore will come from the central government, while the Bihar government will contribute Rs153.94 crore. The tender process has already begun, with bids invited until May 5. Construction is expected to commence soon after contracts are awarded.
The project will cover 3,891.17 metres of bridge construction—roughly ten times the height of the Eiffel Tower—spanning rural streams and seasonal rivers that routinely cut off access during the monsoon.
In recognition of Bihar’s performance under PMGSY, the state has also been awarded Rs138 crore in incentives for its road development work in 2023–24. This will be supplemented by Rs92 crore from the state government, bringing the total allocation for road maintenance to Rs230 crore. The funds will be used for the upkeep of roads whose five-year maintenance cycles have ended.
Beyond the asphalt, officials have stressed the wider developmental benefits. Roads help rural farmers reach markets more efficiently, allow students to attend school safely, and enable timely medical intervention in remote areas.
“This is more than just construction—it’s about connection,” said one local development officer. “And with every kilometre added, we’re bridging not just geographical gaps, but socio-economic ones.”
