Bihar govt to build 700 new bridges in FY25-26, will spend approximately ₹3,000 crore

The Bihar government will construct 700 new bridges in the financial year 2025–26 under the ‘Mukhyamantri Gramin Setu Yojana’. The ambitious initiative, spearheaded by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, is set to cost approximately ₹3,000 crore, with the goal of linking remote villages to towns and cities across the state.

Approved in September 2024, the scheme is now picking up speed in its implementation phase. It seeks to provide safe, permanent, and all-weather connectivity by replacing old and unsafe bridges and filling critical infrastructure gaps where roads remain incomplete due to missing bridges.

Significantly, the scheme also includes provisions to rebuild bridges damaged by floods or natural disasters, a recurring issue in Bihar. In regions where bridges exist but lack connecting roads, new approach roads will be constructed, making these structures fully usable and improving daily life for thousands of rural residents.

So far, 14 bridge projects have already received administrative approval, with a combined cost of ₹117.64 crore. Additionally, proposals from district-level steering committees are being reviewed to finalize the remaining projects in a phased manner.

Officials say the plan is rooted in the real needs of rural Bihar, where connectivity is often severely impacted during monsoons. The government aims to ensure uninterrupted transportation for farmers, schoolchildren, health workers, and local businesses through robust and modern infrastructure.

This development is expected to boost economic activity, ease access to services, and bring tangible improvement to rural life. With the groundwork underway, the state is now poised to witness large-scale infrastructure transformation over the next year.