The Bihar Public Works Department (PWD) has begun preparations to implement a new policy focused on road safety and maintenance. Under this policy, citizens who send photos of potholes or damaged roads to the government could receive rewards of up to ₹5,000.
PWD Minister Dilip Jaiswal explained that the policy is modeled on an “ambulance system” for roads. He said, “Just as a patient is rushed to a hospital for treatment, roads will receive immediate ‘treatment’ through a Road Ambulance system when they fall into disrepair.”
As part of the initiative, all major intersections and junctions will display Road Ambulance contact numbers. Once a citizen reports a damaged road, repair work on that stretch will commence immediately.
Minister Jaiswal further stated that the policy will be implemented by March 2026, and within six months of that, road monitoring and repairs will be completed. If a road is still found damaged after this period, citizens reporting it will be rewarded, and responsible officials or contractors will face action.
He also confirmed that Road Ambulances will be operational 24 hours a day. Once a report is received at the call center, the department will act without delay. The reward amount is currently under finalization, but sources indicate it will be set at ₹5,000.
This initiative has the potential to make Bihar’s PWD a national model for road maintenance policies.