Patna, In a significant shift aimed at improving the durability and quality of its road infrastructure, the Bihar government is set to roll out a new long-term maintenance policy under which contracting agencies will be responsible for repairing and maintaining urban and major district roads for a full seven years after construction.
The state’s Path Nirman Vibhag (Road Construction Department) has prepared a proposal for the “Output and Performance-Based Road Assets Maintenance Contract” (OPRMC-3) policy, which is expected to be placed before the cabinet for approval shortly. Under the new regime, contractors will not merely patch potholes but will be held accountable for the overall ride quality, surface smoothness and structural integrity of roads throughout the seven-year defect liability-cum-maintenance period.
The department has identified 19,360.674 km of urban roads and major district roads for renewal and strengthening, with an estimated outlay of approximately ₹23,000 crore. Of this, works covering 14,225.398 km are already under way, while another 5,135.276 km have received in-principle approval. The entire programme will be executed through 100 packages, potentially involving up to 100 agencies, with a total sanctioned cost of ₹22,956.8 crore for the construction and initial renewal components alone.
A key feature of the policy is the introduction of stringent performance penalties: agencies found wanting in maintenance obligations could face deductions of up to 40 per cent of their payment. Contractors will also be required to undertake at least one full renewal (re-carpeting) exercise during the seven-year period, in addition to routine repairs.
Officials say the move is designed to end the cycle of rapid deterioration that has plagued Bihar’s roads soon after construction. “The focus will no longer be limited to filling potholes,” a senior department official told reporters. “Smoothness, skid resistance and overall serviceability will be continuously monitored and enforced.”
The OPRMC model marks a substantial escalation in both scope and financial commitment compared with earlier maintenance contracts, with the seven-year obligation representing nearly four times the expenditure of previous short-term arrangements.
If approved, the policy will apply to state highways and important district roads across Bihar, covering a significant portion of the state’s non-national highway network. Implementation is expected to begin immediately after cabinet clearance, with tendering for the 100 packages to follow.
