Patna: Rural works department (RWD) minister Ashok Choudhary informed the assembly on Wednesday that 1.19 lakh km of rural roads and 2,884 bridges have been constructed over the past 20 years to boost the state’s rural economy. He said that when CM Nitish Kumar assumed office in Nov 2005, the state had only 8,000 km of roads.Describing the achievement as the “Nitish Kumar model of rural development through expanded road infrastructure,” he said the focus would remain on the “further strengthening and expansion of the rural roads” in the 2026-27 fiscal. “At present, the construction work has been going on with regard to 7,113 km of roads in the state,” he said.Choudhary was replying to the House debate on Rs 11,312 crore budgetary demand of the department for 2026-27. A cut motion was moved by RJD member Rahul Kumar, but the budget was passed by voice vote after opposition members, except those from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), walked out.Responding to demands for improved connectivity to smaller habitations, Choudhary said priority was being given to providing all-weather roads and bridges to villages with populations of 500, 250 and 100.“First the govt had started giving road connectivity to villages with a population of 500. Then, the CM decided to give the same to tolas with 250 population, and now the plan has focused on covering all the tolas inhabited by extremely backward caste and Dalit groups,” he said.He added that the 2026-27 target includes construction of 3,000 km of new rural roads, 300 km under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and 300 bridges. Under Saat Nishchay-3, select rural roads will be widened to 5.5 metres. Sanction has been granted for 909 bridges under CM Setu Yojana, with agreements signed for 660. For maintenance of old bridges, Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for 2026-27.
About the Author
