PATNA: The state government has launched new policy named ‘Bihar Rural Road Maintenance Policy-2018’ under which several norms followed by National Highway Authority of India ( NHAI ) and international standards would be taken up for maintenance of rural road in Bihar .

While addressing a press conference, rural works department (RWD) principal secretary Vinay Kumar said that under new policy, now irrespective of any scheme under which rural roads were constructed, they could be included for maintenance, effective for period of five years.

Secretary to CM, Manish Kumar Verma was also present along with Kumar in the presser.

The state has around 1.1 lakh kilometres of rural roads which is 87% of the total road connectivity in state falling under RWD. Of the total rural roads, around 74,000 kilometres roads have been constructed under several schemes which includes Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY), Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna (MMGSY), Gram Tola Sadak Nirman Yojna and loan from NABARD.

“The new policy was given nod by cabinet on Saturday and work under it would begin by end of this month. Maintenance of around 36,000 kilometres of rural road would be taken up presently under it,” he said, adding, Bihar is the first state in country to come up with such policy of rural road maintenance.

“At present, the policy would cost Rs 4,000 crore annually to exchequer but from the next financial year, it would come down to Rs 3,000 crore per annum. This policy would enable department to make 70% expenditure for construction and 30% for maintenance. Effort is to reach the ideal ratio of 50% share for construction and maintenance,” he said, adding, earlier less than 10% share of fund was available for maintenance.

The RWD secretary said that now onwards, all old roads, which would be taken up for maintenance onwards would be done under the new policy. Kumar said that government would maintain transparency with all information about contractors, tenders and payment being available in public domain.

He said the category-criteria for rural roads have been removed and now they would be broadened, strengthened or upgraded according to the flow of traffic which was not possible under the older policy of 2013.

He said road would be now constructed using technique of machine laid top surface which is generally done by road construction department or NHAI.

“The contractor would have to ensure that there are bumps within 400cm in one kilometre stretch of rural road which is an international norm known as International Roughness Index (IRI),” he said.

“Emphasis has been laid for security which included installing crash barriers, rumble strips, road signs, speed breakers and roadside afforestation. These things were not done earlier. Payment to contractor would be made after all these conditions are fulfilled,” Kumar said.

He also said tenders would be allotted in package which would include all rural roads of a block or sub-division under new policy. “No separate tenders would be allotted,” he said.

