What’s inside:
Bihar government is changing how urban roads are maintained, focusing on accountability and quality over a seven-year period.
The Bihar government is making big changes to how urban roads are looked after. A new plan called OPRMC-3 will ensure that the same company builds and maintains the roads for seven years. This means if a road gets damaged, the same agency that built it will have to fix it.
This new system will cover over 19,000 km of roads, including state highways and main district roads. The government plans to spend around Rs 23,000 crores on this project, which is much more than what was spent under the previous policy. They are ready to repair 19,360.674 km of roads, out of which 14,225.398 km are already in use.
For this project, the repair work is divided into 100 packages, and 100 different agencies will be chosen to carry out the work. If an agency wants to take on more than one package, they can do so, as long as they meet the required standards. The goal is to make the process clear and accountable.
The new policy also has strict rules for the agencies involved. If they do not meet quality standards within the seven-year period, they could lose up to 40% of their payment. This is a serious message that road construction is now a long-term commitment, not just a one-time contract.
During the maintenance period, agencies must also renew the roads, not just fix potholes. They need to ensure smooth surfaces and safety. With these new rules, the government hopes to improve the quality of urban roads in Bihar and reduce problems like erosion and poor repairs.
Summary:
- Bihar government introduces new road maintenance policy.
- Same agency responsible for building and maintaining roads for seven years.
- Over 19,000 km of roads will be repaired with a budget of Rs 23,000 crores.
- Strict rules to ensure quality and accountability in repairs.
- Agencies must also renew roads, not just fix potholes.
