Patna

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated and laid the foundation for 6,199 projects worth Rs 8,837.77 crore under the Rural Works Department on Friday. The ceremony took place at his residence, 1 Anne Marg, with the participation of Rural Works Minister Ashok Chaudhary and other officials.

The projects include the construction of 176 bridges and 10,000 kilometers of rural roads. Among the completed initiatives, Kumar inaugurated 1,773 rural paths and 36 bridges, covering 2,976 kilometers, costing Rs 2,348 crore. Additionally, he launched the construction of 4,250 rural paths, spanning 7,493 kilometers, and 140 bridges, with an estimated cost of Rs 6,510 crore. These developments aim to reduce travel time between remote areas and Patna to just five hours.

The Rural Works Department is also embarking on an ambitious project to build 25,000 kilometers of rural roads with a budget of Rs 20,000 crore, including a seven-year maintenance plan. Bihar is the first state to introduce such a scheme, enhancing rural infrastructure. The Chief Minister also launched the Rural Bridge Scheme to construct bridges up to 100 meters for better connectivity in remote areas. These efforts are expected to improve infrastructure, create jobs, and boost economic activity in Bihar’s rural regions.