A significant infrastructure initiative in Bihar, supported by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), has been focused on building a comprehensive network of rural roads and bridges. This project is nearing completion, and its impact is already evident, as villages are becoming more accessible and connected to cities. This road network is playing a vital role in boosting the state’s rural economy.
The Rural Works Department’s recent district-wise progress report reveals that in 2023, the department sanctioned the construction of 2025 rural roads. Impressively, 1859 of these roads have already been built. These roads span a total length of 5254.490 kilometers, with 4822.474 kilometers already constructed.
Along with the roads, the project included the construction of 1235 bridges across the state, also supported by NABARD. Of these, 910 bridges have been successfully completed. The remaining 325 bridges are under construction and are slated for completion in the coming months.
Nalanda district stands out as a leader in this initiative. Out of the 214 approved road projects, 199 have been finalized. Over 370 kilometers of roads have been constructed in Nalanda, with a target of 396.194 kilometers. Moreover, 59 out of 67 planned bridges have been completed in the district.
In Gaya, 120 out of 129 approved roads have been constructed. The district aims to build roads totaling 395.245 kilometers, with 365.782 kilometers already built. Out of 57 bridge projects, 46 have been successfully completed.
The capital city, Patna, has also made substantial progress. Out of 167 approved rural roads, 157 have been built, covering over 329.708 kilometers of the targeted 363.767 kilometers. Furthermore, 46 out of 54 bridge projects have been finalized in Patna’s rural areas.
Other districts have also made considerable progress in road construction: Aurangabad (244.856 kilometers), Darbhanga (235.740 km), East Champaran (230.772 km), Munger (202.814 km), Rohtas (176.462 km), Jehanabad (169.606 km), Sitamarhi (151.346 km), and Muzaffarpur (139.682 km). Rural road construction is nearing completion in Jamui, Madhubani, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Kishanganj, and Nawada districts as well.