Bihar to build 50,000 km roads in 5 yrs

Bihar government will construct a network of 50,000 km of roads in the next five years, said Rural Works Department Minister Bhim Singh on June 10. Presenting the annual report of his department, Singh said while 11 districts are covered under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), the remaining districts would be covered under Mukhyamantri Gram Sampark Yojana (MGSY).

Habitations of over 250 persons would be connected via state core network of MGSY, he said. The 11 districts covered under PMGSY are Gaya, Nawada, Jehanabad, Arwal, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Jamui, Munger, West Champaran, Sitamarhi and Kaimur. Admitting that maintenance of the roads was a big challenge, he said the government has changed the inspection pattern for contractors who would not have to give expenditure details every month.

Within the next 20 days, the department would release funds for maintenance of roads under the Bihar Rural Roads Maintenance Policy (BRRMP). The department has constructed 8,500kms of rural roads at a cost of over Rs 3,226 crore between April 2012 and March 2013.

Several schemes for road constructions are now being wrapped up and only two programmes would continue - MGSY (38,000 kms) and PMGSY (nearly 13,500 kms), Singh said.