In an innovative move, Bihar’s Urban Development and Housing Department is creating a digital inventory of roads in urban areas. Municipal bodies, including corporations, councils, and panchayats, must submit detailed road mapping reports by August 20, 2025. The initiative involves a unique color-coding system to identify roads based on the agency responsible for their construction, assisting in efficient management and urban development planning. Roads will be marked in specific colors: national highways in red, state highways in green, Rural Works Department roads in black, municipal roads in yellow, District Council roads in blue-pink, Local Area Engineering Organization roads in blue, and other departmental roads in purple. This color-coded system will promote transparency and efficiency in road network management. Municipal bodies will provide detailed information, including road dimensions, construction specifics, and current condition in a standardized format. This digital record will streamline road maintenance and support urban planning. The department has directed all Chief Engineers and Superintending Engineers to ensure the prompt implementation of this directive. This initiative comes alongside the ‘Chief Minister Electricity Consumer Assistance Scheme’, where Chief Minister Nitish Kumar digitally engaged with over 1.6 million beneficiaries. The scheme offers 125 units of free electricity to 18.9 million domestic consumers, leading to monthly savings of ₹700 for urban and ₹500 for rural households. The Urban Development Department’s directive is a significant stride in organizing the road network in Bihar’s urban regions. The color-coded mapping and digital records will improve road management, maintenance, and future project planning, advancing Bihar’s vision of becoming a digital and developed state.
