Bihar: Infrastructure: roads, rail, power

Bihar's infrastructure is handled by state departments for roads, rural development, civil aviation and urban development. The Road Construction Department aims to link every district to Patna by 2/4-lane highways, while the Urban Development and Housing Department works in a state whose urbanisation rate was only 11.3% in the 2011 census.

Road Construction and Vision

The Road Construction Department is the premier works department responsible for the planning, designing, construction, improvement, strengthening, and maintenance of roads and bridges. This includes flyovers, Road Over Bridges (ROBs), and elevated corridors. The department manages the road network comprising National Highways, State Highways, and Major District Roads.

The vision of the department includes:

• Linking the state capital with 2/4-lane highways to all districts so that Patna can be reached within 5 hours from the farthest destination.
• 2-Laning (7.00m) of all single lane or intermediate lane State Highways.
• Widening to Intermediate Lane (5.50m) of all single lane Major District Roads.
• Replacement of SP Bridges, narrow or damaged bridges, culverts, and causeways by RCC H.L. Bridge.
• Adequate connectivity to tourist spots, cultural heritage sites, special agricultural production areas, and important markets.

Flagship Road Projects

The Road Construction Department has identified key flagship projects to enhance connectivity:

• Construction of a Greenfield Six-Lane Extra dosed Cable Bridge over the river Ganga from New NH-30 Bidupur.
• Development of a Greenfield Bridge across the River Ganga and its approaches, connecting Bakhtiyarpur Bypass on NH – 31 near village Karjan and Tajpur on NH – 28.
• Construction of an Additional 2-Lane Semi Elevated + 4-lane Elevated Highway over Patna Canal as an approach for the Rail-cum-Road Project across the River Ganga at Digha, Patna.

Rural Infrastructure and Livelihoods

The Rural Development Department (as described on the Rural Works Department page) focuses on alleviating rural poverty by creating infrastructure and generating sustainable employment opportunities. Its vision is the sustainable and inclusive development of rural households through a multipronged strategy for poverty eradication.

• The department promotes livelihood opportunities and provides a social safety net.
• It implements programs for skill development and promotes self-employment opportunities for eligible individuals and Self Help Groups.
• The strategy involves convergence of schemes to increase employment opportunities in rural areas.

Civil Aviation Development

The Civil Aviation Department is committed to the safe, sustainable, and inclusive development of civil aviation in Bihar. It coordinates with the MoCA, AAI, BCAS, and DGCA.

• The department oversees the development and modernization of airports and airstrips.
• It expands air connectivity, including UDAN services, and strengthens safety and regulatory frameworks.
• The department promotes aviation skill development through its Flying Training Institute.
• It operates aircraft and helicopters for official, emergency, disaster response, and relief operations.
• Its stated vision is to make Bihar a civil aviation hub with safe, seamless and sustainable air connectivity.

Urban Development and Housing

The Urban Development & Housing Department is the nodal department for planned growth of cities and towns. According to the 2011 census, the rate of urbanization in Bihar is 11.3%, compared to the national average of 31.2%. The state accounts for 8.6% of India’s total population but only 3.1% of the country’s total urban population.

Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):

• There are 261 Urban Local Bodies in Bihar.
• 44% of the urban population resides in Nagar Nigams (towns with more than 2 lakh population).
• 32% resides in Nagar Parishads (towns with population between 40,000 and 2,00,000).
• 24% resides in Nagar Panchayats (towns with population between 12,000 and 40,000).

Key Urban Schemes and Initiatives

The state government implements several schemes to improve urban living conditions:

• Drinking Water: A plan to provide piped drinking water supply to all households by 2019 through the AMRUT mission, State Plan, and Mukhya Mantri Har Ghar Nal ka Jal Nischay Yojana.
• Drainage: Construction of extensive drainage systems to address waterlogging. Large outfall drains are sanctioned under AMRUT or the State Plan, while smaller drains are taken up by ULBs under the Mukhya Mantri Shahari Pakki NaliGali Nischay Yojana.
• Sanitation: Construction of toilets under the Sauchalaya Nirman Ghar ka Samman Nischay and the Swachh Bharat Mission. The state provides funds at the rate of ₹1200 per household per year to all ULBs as Swachhata Anudan for sanitation and solid waste management.
• River Ganga: under the Central Government's Namani Gange scheme, towns along the Ganga are targeted for cleaning and rejuvenation of the river.
• Housing: The Housing for All Mission for urban areas was to be implemented during 2015-2022, providing houses to all eligible families by 2022. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with a 75% central share and 25% state share, except for the credit linked subsidy component. The state notified its Affordable Housing and Slum Rehabilitation and Redevelopment Policy in 2017, requiring a minimum of 35% EWS units to be sold to eligible beneficiaries.
• Transport and Heritage: An Inter State Bus Terminus is being developed in Patna, and 38 bus stands have been constructed in various cities. The city of Gaya has been taken up under the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) scheme.
• Energy: In February 2018, the state signed an Umbrella MoU with Energy Efficiency Services Ltd (EESL) for the replacement of all inefficient street lights with LED lights.