Bihar govt approves Road Development Vision-2020

The Bihar government today approved the Road Development Vision-2020 for expansion of road infrastructure and connectivity in the state.
The decision in this regard was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Principal Secretary (Cabinet Secretariat) Brajesh Mehrotra told reporters here.
Under the Road Development Vision-2020, all state highways would be widened to minimum of two lanes, while all long-distance district roads would have a minimum width of 5.5 metres of its intermediate lane, he said.
All dilapidated and narrow bridges/culverts on roads would be rehabilitated and all state roads and major districts roads with increased traffic density and movement of commercial vehicles would get RCC bridges instead of those fixed on screw piles, Mehrotra said.

In order to ensure all-weather road connectivity in Bihar, the Road Development Vision-2020 proposes wide bridges, causeways, low level culverts etc, Mehrotra said adding, it has also been proposed to carry out adequate configuration on the basis of traffic density and vehicular pressure on roads being owned by different agencies.
The Principal Secretary said keeping in view of the increasing traffic density on roads and movement of vehicles with axle load, it has been proposed to construct high speed corridor on star-grid pattern and align the missing links with national and state highways.

With traffic congestion in cities and major towns becoming a huge problem, the Vision document proposes to set up multi-lane roads with dividers, besides construction of drainage system, he said.

The state cabinet also approved the creation of 88 posts of cooks in jails for serving quality food to inmates, Mehrotra said adding, jails would have better medical facilities for prisoners as a proposal has been sanctioned for creation of the posts of Director and Deputy Director of Jail Medical Services.
The state government approved a proposal for grant of Rs 100 crore for repair of roads and bridges after it was damaged due to floods, cyclone and other natural calamities.
A proposal for sanction of Rs 193.33 crore towards Mid-Day Meal scheme for 2016-17 and release of funds under this head in proportionate to transfer of funds under this head by the Centre was cleared, the principal secretary said.

The state government also gave its nod to accept BEd degrees from institutions in Jammu and Kashmir for candidates applying for teaching jobs under the Bihar District Board Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers (Recruitment and Service Condition) Amendment Rules, 2017 and Bihar Municipal Bodies Secondary and Higher Secondary Teachers (Recruitment and Service Condition) Amendment Rules, 2017, he said.