Bihar govt to maintain 19,327 km of roads over seven years at ₹21,000 crore, using AI and ML for faster, efficient road and bridge repairs.

Patna: The Bihar government plans to implement a new road maintenance policy under which 19,327 km of roads across the state will be maintained over the next seven years at an estimated cost of around ₹21,000 crore. A proposal related to this policy has been submitted to the Public Finance Committee and, once approved, will be presented to the Cabinet for final clearance. Officials said the selection process for road maintenance agencies is expected to begin soon after the start of the new financial year. The draft policy has been designed to address the limitations of the existing system, aiming for faster and more efficient road repairs.

Key Features of the Policy

The new framework emphasizes quick response times to road repairs, reducing delays caused by administrative approvals. The state government has divided the maintenance work into 100 packages, with division-wise tenders to be issued following Cabinet approval. This will mark the third road maintenance policy introduced by the Bihar government.

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Integration of Technology

A major highlight of the policy is the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). A command and control center will be set up at the state headquarters for real-time monitoring of road conditions. AI/ML-enabled vehicles will patrol the road network, and photographs taken during inspections will be transmitted to the control center for analysis. In addition to roads, selected maintenance agencies will also be responsible for the upkeep of bridges up to six meters in length on state highways. Bridges longer than six meters will have their auxiliary roads maintained under the policy.

Strengthening Bihar’s Road Infrastructure

The new initiative reflects the Nitish Kumar government’s focus on improving road infrastructure across Bihar. Timely and efficient road maintenance under this policy is expected to benefit multiple districts, enhancing connectivity, safety, and the overall quality of roads throughout the state.