Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday inaugurated the fourth phase of the JP Ganga Path in Patna. The 20.5-km stretch has been constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 3,831 crore. With the opening of this section, the travel time from Digha to Didarganj has been significantly reduced.
Commuters can now reach Didarganj in Patna City from Digha in just 30 minutes—down from the earlier travel time of over one and a half hours.
The inauguration marked the opening of the entire stretch of the driveway constructed along the southern bank of the Ganga river. Road Construction Department Additional Chief Secretary Mihir Kumar Singh welcomed the chief minister during the official ceremony.
CM Nitish said the new road would significantly benefit commuters travelling to destinations such as Biharsharif, Mokama, and Begusarai, cutting travel time and easing congestion in Patna city. “This road will provide great relief to people and make movement within the city far smoother,” he said.
The JP Ganga Path—often referred to as Patna’s ‘Marine Drive’—has been constructed in phases since its foundation stone was laid in October 2013, on the birth anniversary of socialist leader Jayaprakash Narayan, after whom the project is named.
The driveway was developed in three phases: the first from Digha to Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) spanned 7.5km, the second from PMCH to Gaighat added 5km, and the final phase between Gaighat and Kangan Ghat added another 3km. The now completed route also connects through key city points including Atal Path, LCT Ghat, Gandhi Maidan, Krishna Ghat, and Patna Ghat.
Highlighting the strategic importance of the corridor, CM Nitish said the route would ease east-west mobility in the state capital. As part of his Pragati Yatra announcements, he reiterated plans to extend the corridor eastward to Mokama via Fatuha, Bakhtiyarpur, and Barh, and westward to Bihta and Koilwar. These extensions are currently being implemented by the Road Construction Department.
