An overcrowded bus on the dilapidated Motihari-Saraiya state highway no. 86. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Aug. 29: The road construction department is in the final leg of bringing out a new policy which will ensure proper and long-term maintenance of state roads and highways.

Sources said the new policy was with the finance department and was expected to get cabinet approval within the next fortnight.

“At present, the department follows the input-based system when it comes to road construction. Under this system, the department gives contractors the plan for road construction. The department has its set of engineers and the entire planning is done by them. The contractors are paid to follow the same technical directions and construct the road. But often the engineers tend to falter when it comes to the design and other technicalities and the contractors build a road which tends to wear off in a short time. Given this situation, the department cannot act against the contractor as they wash their hands of the matter, saying they built the road exactly as per the directions given to them. The department wants to change this now,” a road construction official said.

Under the new policy, the maintenance of the roads will be given to contractors on a long-term basis — at least nine to 10 years.

“The government will be fixing the service level of the roads. The contractors also have a lot of know-how when it comes to the construction and maintenance of roads. Once they get the contract, they will have to ensure that the road is first re-fixed and then maintained in such a way that they stay perfect. The department will give the contractors the chance to quote the price for, say, a 10-year maintenance contract. But after this, the responsibility will be theirs,” the official said.

He added: “If again, for example, the road develops a pothole or any other snag, a definite and practical timeframe will be given to the contractor to mend it properly. If, by the given time frame, the contractor does not do the work, money will be deducted from the contract amount. This will ensure that the contractor is alert and his men are on the road frequently for inspections. There will be a time limit to mend each of the snags that develop on the roads and the contractor has to make it perfect within the given time frame.”

All new roads will be governed by the new policy.

“When it comes to new roads, the contractors will be responsible for construction as well as maintenance. The same policy will be applicable,” another official said.

The state government has constructed 2,742km of new state highways since 2006. At present, Bihar has a network of 8,505km of major district roads and 3,734km of national highways.

“The new policy will ensure that the roads stay in proper condition and commuters have a smooth ride,” said the official.