Patna: Bihar’s rural road network is playing a pivotal role in accelerating the state’s overall development and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Speaking at a press conference, Rural Works Minister Dr. Ashok Chaudhary highlighted the transformative impact of rural roads over the last two decades, noting that Bihar has set new benchmarks in road construction, reducing distances not only from villages to towns but also between villages themselves.
Two-Lane Roads to Strengthen Rural Connectivity
Under the government’s ‘Saat Nishchay-3’ initiative, the Rural Works Department is upgrading selected rural roads to two lanes. These roads will connect block, sub-division, and district headquarters with state and national highways, improving accessibility for farmers, students, and rural communities. Minister Chaudhary emphasized that strengthened road infrastructure is enhancing market access for agricultural produce, ensuring better prices, and facilitating easier access to education and healthcare facilities.
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Major Milestones in Rural Road Development
Over the past 20 years, Bihar has connected 1,19,915 settlements with all-weather paved roads and constructed 2,750 bridges, creating an extensive network that has transformed rural life. For the financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26, approval has been granted for the construction of 18,166 rural roads totaling 30,965 km under the Rural Road Strengthening and Management Program.
Minister Chaudhary underlined the government’s commitment to maintaining these roads through the Chief Minister’s Rural Road Upgradation Scheme, ensuring that rural road assets are preserved for long-term use and preventing deterioration.
Facilitating Access to Key Services
The Accessible Connectivity Scheme is linking villages with critical facilities such as hospitals, schools, banks, markets, and tourist spots via national highways, state highways, and major district roads. So far, 65 projects have received administrative approval with a total budget of ₹356.431 crore, and construction has started on 13 of these projects.
New Bridges to Enhance Mobility
To further improve rural connectivity, the state has initiated the Chief Minister’s Rural Bridge Scheme, approving the construction of 909 new bridges in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Out of these, 670 bridges have already received work orders, while 239 bridges are in the tendering process. These initiatives aim to provide uninterrupted and safe connectivity for rural communities across Bihar.
Officials Present
The press conference was attended by the Principal Secretary of the Rural Works Department, Devesh Sehra; Additional Secretary Abhay Jha; Sanjay Kumar; and Chief Engineer Nirmal Kumar.
This report highlights the scale of Bihar’s rural infrastructure development, its impact on socio-economic growth, and the government’s continuous efforts to connect remote areas with modern, all-weather roads.
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