Patna: A six-kilometer stretch along the Ganga riverbank, from Digha to the Collectorate in Patna, is set to be transformed under a new state government initiative. The project, spearheaded by the Forest Department, includes freeing the area from encroachments and fencing a two-kilometer section in the first phase. Around 2,000 meters of land will be fenced and planted with trees, with Rs. 2 crore allocated for this initial phase. The District Magistrate, Chandrashekhar Singh, has identified the land for plantation, while the responsibility of fencing the area near Gate No. 88 has been assigned to the Sadar Circle Officer.
Security measures, including police deployment, have been put in place to prevent disruptions during the process. The targeted land lies between the Patna security wall on Ashoka Rajpath and JP Ganga Path.
The broader plan aims to modernize the area while keeping government land encroachment-free and gradually implementing additional projects as outlined in the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
A key component of the project is addressing untreated wastewater from roughly 20 small and three large drains, including Kurji, Rajapur, and Mandiri, which currently discharge directly into the river. These will be redirected to the Digha Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) through pipelines for treatment before being released into the Ganga channel.
The 4.5-kilometer channel from Kurji to the Collectorate, now clogged with silt, will be desilted and modernized. The channel will support boating during regular days and serve as an alternative venue for devotees during Chhath Mahaparva.
The redeveloped area will feature several attractions, such as a Ganga Dhyan Kendra offering information on the river’s origins, a Patna Haat showcasing local crafts and products, and a botanical garden with medicinal plants.
Plans include a sports zone with two football grounds, two cricket grounds, four basketball courts, and four volleyball courts, along with an elevated cycling track. Additional amenities include a children’s playground with swings, musical fountains, restaurants, shopping malls, open gyms, and venues for cultural performances.
Meanwhile, in East Patna’s Kangan Ghat, land surveys are underway to widen the road from JP Ganga Path to the Gurudwara and construct multi-level parking.
Government land along the Ganga will also be cleared of encroachments to develop a park. The overall vision aims to enhance the area’s ecological, cultural, and recreational value while modernizing its infrastructure.
