Improved Road Network Boosts Bihar’s Farm Exports and Incomes

Patna: Rural Works Minister Ashok Chaudhary on Monday hailed the expansion of rural road infrastructure as a lifeline for Bihar’s economy, claiming it has transformed village-to-city connectivity and boosted agricultural trade to international markets including Dubai and Singapore.

Speaking at the concluding session of a four-phase technical orientation workshop for engineers, he said, “Rural roads have acted like arteries, invigorating Bihar’s economy and improving per capita income from Rs 7,000 to Rs 66,000.” He credited Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s leadership for spearheading the construction of over 1.1 lakh kilometres of rural roads since 2005 — a significant leap from the 8,000 kilometres recorded that year.

Held at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, the final phase of the workshop brought together assistant, executive, superintending, and chief engineers from across the state. The session aimed to enhance technical capacity and ensure quality control in bridge construction.

He underlined the role of improved infrastructure in transforming rural economies, enabling easier market access for farmers and facilitating exports of agricultural produce. “Today, Bihar’s vegetables are not just reaching Indian markets but are also being exported globally,” he added.

The workshop also featured technical discussions led by Chief Engineer-cum-Additional Commissioner Bhagwat Ram, who outlined Standard Operating Procedures for bridge projects and emphasised the importance of deep foundations in weak soil areas or high-traffic zones. Additional Chief Secretary Deepak Kumar Singh issued a stern warning to engineers, stating that delays in execution would attract strict disciplinary action.

The event marked the final instalment of a training series that previously held sessions on June 15, 23 and 25, targeting junior engineers, technical supervisors, contractors and project engineers.