Construct footpaths at crowded places in urban areas, says CM

Patna: CM Nitish Kumar on Saturday issued several key directives to the transport department to ensure that pedestrians do not face any inconvenience on roads.

He asked transport department officials to identify crowded places, especially in urban areas of the state, and construct footpaths at the earliest, keeping road safety standards in mind.


He also asked officials concerned to construct zebra crossings, foot overbridges/escalators and underpasses at identified locations for the convenience of pedestrians, and to provide training to all govt and private vehicle drivers so that they become sensitive towards the rights of pedestrians on roads.

The CM asked the officials to identify accident-prone locations (black spots) in rural and urban areas of the state and construct footpaths for pedestrians, as well as install CCTV cameras, so that proper assessment is carried out and road accidents are reduced.

In a detailed post on his social media platforms, Nitish said, “Under the ‘Sabka Samman-Jeevan Aasan’ (Ease of Living) of the Saat Nishchay-3 (for FY 2025-30), we are continuously working to make the daily life of all citizens of the state easier. In this regard, we also took several important decisions for the ‘dignity of pedestrians’ on the roads.”

“Bihar is progressing rapidly on the path of development. The income of state residents is increasing, due to which the number of two-wheelers and four-wheelers on the state's roads is continuously increasing, but due to the increasing vehicles on the state's roads, pedestrians face inconvenience. Walking safely and with dignity on the road is the first right of pedestrians,” the CM said in the post.

Nitish also said that his govt had directed the transport department to work swiftly so that pedestrians on the state's roads get all the above-mentioned facilities as soon as possible. “I am fully confident that this initiative will prove quite useful for pedestrians on the state's roads and will make their daily life easier,” he said.

The state cabinet, led by Nitish, on Dec 16 last year gave its nod to roll out the “Saat Nischay-3” programme for the next five years (FY 2025-30) to bring Bihar into the category of developed states in the country.

To achieve the goal of ‘development with justice’, the state govt has already successfully implemented two “Saat Nischay” programmes since 2015 as part of a good governance initiative.