Rural Works Minister Ashok Choudhary made a significant announcement on Monday. He revealed plans for a major infrastructure upgrade across Bihar's rural areas. The minister spoke to reporters in Patna about these developments.
Rural Roads Expansion Project
Choudhary stated that 11,942 kilometers of rural roads will undergo substantial widening. These roads currently measure 3.5 meters in width. They will be expanded to 5.5 meters under the new initiative.
The existing five-year maintenance contracts for these roads have either ended or will conclude by March 31 this year. Once the widening work finishes, these roads will enter a new seven-year maintenance agreement.
Saat Nishchay-3 Programme Implementation
The minister explained that this work falls under the Saat Nishchay-3 programme. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar originally envisioned this comprehensive development scheme.
Teams of junior engineers and technical supervisors have already begun their work. They are identifying government land required for the road expansion. These teams use a specially approved mobile application for their survey work.
The land identification process should complete by March 31. After that, actual widening and reconstruction will start immediately.
Training and Timeline
Choudhary confirmed that relevant engineers have received proper training for the mobile application. Junior engineers, assistant engineers, and executive engineers all participated in this training.
The government has set a clear completion target for this massive project. All widening and reconstruction work should finish during the 2026-27 financial year.
Bridge Construction Initiative
The minister also addressed bridge-related concerns across rural Bihar. He referred to recent reports about bridge collapses during floods. Some bridges remain abandoned while others lack proper approach roads. Damaged pillars affect additional structures.
The Rural Works Department is tackling these issues through the Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Yojana. This special scheme has sanctioned construction of 909 identified bridges.
Bridge Project Details
The estimated cost for these 909 bridges reaches Rs 4,744.64 crore. The list includes old and dilapidated bridges that need replacement. It also covers bridges required at sensitive points along existing roads. Additional bridges will provide connectivity to remaining habitations.
Work orders have already been issued for 670 of these sanctioned bridges. The tendering process continues for the remaining 239 bridges. Various stages of this process are currently underway.
Technical Oversight
Forty engineers are examining detailed project reports for these bridges. They work alongside three inter-departmental technical advisory committees. A bridge consultant also participates in this review process.
The review and approval of all detailed project reports should conclude by February 25 this year. This systematic approach ensures proper planning before construction begins.
These infrastructure projects represent substantial investment in Bihar's rural connectivity. The widened roads and new bridges should significantly improve transportation for rural communities across the state.
