Bihar’s Infrastructure Boom: Chief Secretary Highlights 15-Fold Data Usage Surge, Expanding Roads, Bridges And Power

Bihar has seen a remarkable 15-fold increase in data consumption over the past five years as the state is witnessing extensive infrastructure development, connectivity improvements, and investments in rail and road networks, according to chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena.

Bihar has witnessed unprecedented growth in infrastructure development with its road density being the third largest in India that facilitates trade and transport.

Electricity generation in the state has grown from 700 MW to 7,000 MW, and IT parks and data centres are in the pipeline.

Highlighting the progress in the road sector, Meena said, “We have a network of 1.2 lakh kilometers of rural roads built completely during the last 20 years. The highway network, both national and state, has seen tremendous growth over the last 10 years.”

The state’s budget has outlined four expressways, including Siliguri-Gorakhpur and Patna-Purnia, with several ongoing projects, such as the Varanasi-Kolkata corridor, further enhancing connectivity.

Bridges on major rivers like the Ganga, Kosi, Gandak, and Son have significantly improved mobility.

“In Bihar, Gangaji is 400 kilometers. In 400 kilometers, there were only four bridges with a 10-lane width. Now, we have 14 bridges constructed or under construction, with a lane width of 70,” Meena said.

These developments have boosted agriculture, education, and healthcare access.

On the railways, Meena noted that the Sonnagar-Dadri section of the dedicated freight corridor is operational, and work is progressing on the Sonnagar-Andal section. Single-lane railway lines are being converted into double lanes, with plans for a third line on congested routes.

Bihar has also made strides in gas infrastructure, with 1,700 kilometers of pipeline and all 38 districts under city gas distribution.

In telecom, mobile users have increased from 6 crore in 2019 to 7.25 crore in 2024, while average data usage has surged from 1.67 GB to 27 GB per month.

Power consumption has grown from 700 MW in 2005 to a peak of 8,000 MW this year.

“We are coming up with the Bihar Renewable Energy Policy and pump hydro project policy,” Meena added.

MSME credit flow has risen from Rs 8,000 crore in 2015 to Rs 77,000 crore in 2023-24, reflecting a supportive business environment.

The state is also expanding medical colleges, engineering institutes, and polytechnics to create a skilled workforce.

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