Bihar’s successful execution of road development proves that with commitment and integrity, even decades of backwardness can be returned to the highway of progress, writes Nitin Nabin, Minister for Road Construction, Government of Bihar.
Through the 1990s and early 2000s, Bihar was synonymous with broken, pothole-ridden roads. Locals often quipped: “In Bihar, you find the road beneath the potholes.” During the monsoons, rural paths turned into swamps, and travelling from villages to towns became a day-long ordeal.
At the time, the National Highway network in Bihar was limited to just 3,400 km. Most rural roads became mud tracks during rains. Ambulances, school buses, and trucks routinely got stuck. Attending weddings, reaching markets, or accessing hospitals could take hours.
In short, roads existed only in political speeches, not in reality. With the result, education, healthcare, and trade all suffered.
Inspiration from the Top
Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasised: “Without a modern road network, the development of Bihar and Eastern India remains incomplete.” Since 2014, the Central Government has allocated some of India’s largest expressway projects to Bihar.
Notable projects include the Raxaul-Haldia corridor, which spans 407 km. It links Nepal’s border to Bengal’s port. The Gorakhpur-Siliguri corridor covers 417 km and connects North Bihar to Nepal and the North East. The Patna-Purnia corridor, at 245 km, accelerates access to the Seemanchal region. The Buxar-Bhagalpur corridor stretches 380 km and serves as a lifeline between western and eastern Bihar. Lastly, the Varanasi-Kolkata corridor includes 117 km within Bihar and strengthens the eastern economic belt.
Moreover, Prime Minister Modi has closely monitored these projects since laying their foundation stones.
Chief Minister’s Ground-Level Push
At the state level, Hon’ble Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has treated roads as the backbone of development. His “Every Village with a Paved Road” mantra became a movement. Today, over 90 per cent of villages are connected by paved roads.
District and block-level widening and double-laning have accelerated, with rural connectivity executed in mission mode. While the Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has delivered national expressways, the Hon’ble Chief Minister Nitish Kumar government ensured last-mile rural connectivity.
Surpassing Our Neighbours
In the last decade, Bihar has built one of Eastern India’s finest highway and village road networks. The National Highway route length now exceeds 6,147 km, up from 3,629 km in 2005. The combined central and state investment in roads is over ₹1.18 trillion.
West Bengal’s highway network stands at around 4,200 km, with expressway projects progressing slowly. Jharkhand has about 2,500 km of highways, with a limited pipeline of new projects. Odisha’s 3,200 km network remains largely dependent on older corridors. Bihar now leads Eastern India in both highways and expressways.
In FY2024-25 alone, Bihar built 1,200 km of new roads, nearly double the pace of construction in Jharkhand and Odisha. These numbers clearly demonstrate Bihar’s leadership in regional connectivity.
Roads That Transform Lives
This road revolution has transformed lives across Bihar. Farmers can now transport produce on time, reducing losses and securing better prices. Traders report logistics cost reductions of 25-30 per cent. Youth have gained employment through expressway projects, with more job opportunities expected in tourism and industry. Travel time from Patna to Seemanchal has halved.
This transformation is not just about asphalt and concrete; it’s about growth, jobs, education, healthcare, and a renewed sense of pride. Where roads once disappeared beneath potholes, Hon’ble Prime Minister Modi’s development priority and Hon’ble Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s vision have turned Bihar into Eastern India’s strongest road network hub.
And this journey reaffirms that with commitment and integrity, even decades of backwardness can be returned to the highway of progress.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nitin Nabin, Minister for Road Construction, Government of Bihar. A senior minister in Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Cabinet, Nabin is known for his proactive approach to infrastructure development, playing a key role in accelerating highway and expressway projects across the state.