High-Level Meeting to Enhance Road Connectivity and Maintenance in Rural Areas

In the light of the directions of the Hon'ble Chief Minister to ensure road connectivity to small settlements in remote rural areas and better maintenance of rural roads, a high level meeting of the Rural Works Department was held today under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Shri Amrit Lal Meena, in which all the senior officials of this department including the Additional Chief Secretary of the Rural Works Department participated.

1. In the said meeting, the Chief Secretary gave instructions to ensure the maintenance of about 65000 km of rural roads under the five-year maintenance period. The department was directed to ensure inspection of all the roads by running a campaign in the next 15 days and ensure punitive action against the contractors / engineers related to those roads which are found unmaintained. Those contractors who are found to be defaulting in the maintenance of roads, a penalty should be deducted from their bills and they should be debarred under the 'Bihar Contracting Registration Rules'.

2. During the meeting, the department was directed to provide the list of the said roads to the District Officer for independent investigation and ask him to run a campaign at his level every Wednesday / Thursday and get the engineers of other departments to inspect them through BRRMS Mobile App and get feedback.

3. It was decided in the meeting that the work should be completed soon by taking action in a phased manner for the selection and approval for the renovation / upgradation of damaged roads from all the rural roads which are out of the defect liability period. It was also decided to take necessary action to complete the construction work in the next two years by preparing proposals in a phased manner for all the approximately 4200 left out hamlets / settlements to provide single connectivity.

4. It was directed in the meeting that action should be taken to identify the essential bridges under Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Yojana, select them on priority basis, get them approved in a phased manner and start the construction work soon.

5. It was directed in the meeting that the department should ensure effective monitoring using unmanned innovative technology (Network Survey Vehicle) for five-year maintenance.

6. It was also decided in the meeting that applications for 231 graduate/postgraduate civil engineers to be received on the online portal of NIC for taking service on contract basis.

7. It was decided in the said meeting to prepare the draft and proposal of 'Revised Bihar Contracting Registration Rules' for the Rural Works Department by obtaining the Contractor Rules from CPWD and other states and take further action.

8. During the meeting, the Chief Secretary directed the department that the Rural Works Department should ensure to continuously inform about all its programs/rules/resolutions/circulars and achievements on social media so that the general public remains benefited by being aware of the departmental programs and achievements.

9. It was directed in the meeting that all the engineers of the department should ensure excellent maintenance of the roads under their area and complete the ongoing works soon.