With the assistance of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Bihar is nearing the completion of an extensive network of rural roads and bridges. The construction of these roads has not only transformed the landscape of villages but has also significantly reduced the distance between remote villages and urban centers. These roads are also fueling the rural economy of the state.
The Rural Works Department released a district-wise progress report, indicating that in 2023, the department approved the construction of 2025 rural roads. Of these, 1859 roads have already been completed. The total length of these 2025 roads is 5254.490 kilometers, with 4822.474 kilometers already constructed.
Similarly, a target of constructing 1235 bridges in the state was also set with the support of NABARD. To date, 910 bridges have been completed. The remaining 325 bridges are under construction and are expected to be completed in the coming months.
According to information provided by the Rural Works Department, Nalanda district is leading in the construction of rural roads. Out of the approved 214 roads, 199 have been completed. Over 370 kilometers of roads have been built in Nalanda, against a target of 396.194 kilometers. Additionally, 59 out of 67 planned bridges have been constructed.
In Gaya, 120 roads have been completed out of 129 approved. The target is to build roads totaling 395.245 kilometers, and 365.782 kilometers have been completed. Of the 57 bridges under construction in Gaya, 46 have been finished.
In the capital district of Patna, 157 out of 167 approved rural roads have been constructed. The target is to build over 363.767 kilometers of rural roads, with 329.708 kilometers already completed. In Patna’s rural areas, 46 out of 54 bridges are completed.
Furthermore, construction of roads has been completed in various other districts. These include 244.856 kilometers in Aurangabad, 235.740 km in Darbhanga, 230.772 km in East Champaran, 202.814 km in Munger, 176.462 km in Rohtas, 169.606 km in Jehanabad, 151.346 km in Sitamarhi, and 139.682 km in Muzaffarpur. Construction work on rural roads is also nearly complete in Jamui, Madhubani, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Kishanganj, and Nawada.