In the state legislative assembly, Nand Kishore Yadav, the Road Construction minister said," Maintenance of roads has been a problem due to insufficiency of funds, but the state government was committed to ensure upkeep of roads for which a road maintenance policy was on anvil.
While replying to his department's budgetary allocation of Rs 4983 crores for 2013-14, Yadav said, the measure for maintenance of roads will come into effect from next year and the accountability of the contractors will be fixed for upkeep of roads in a time-bound manner.
Besides, 13,192 bridges and culverts have been constructed to improve road connectivity during the NDA rule, he said.
The 6-km long Gandhi Setu between Patna-Hajipur, regarded the life-line to North Bihar which was damaged in a portion will be repaired in time bound manner, while in addition, two parallel bridges were under-contruction on the river Ganga for improving road connectivity between North and South Bihar, Yadav said.
The Road Construction Minister slammed the centre for discriminating against Bihar for sanctioning of road projects and non-release of funds.
The Road Construction department's budget was later passed by the legislative assembly by voice vote after the opposition members staged walk out.