Patna/Ara: Commuters in Patna and surrounding areas are set to face a significant change in the toll system, with two tolls now planned on the Patna–Ara–Buxar route and the Didarganj toll plaza is likely to be relocated.
The new tolls follow the construction of the Danapur–Bihta elevated four-lane road. While tolls are already levied at the Koilwar bridge, travellers will now pay a second toll within just 15 kilometres. Officials said the measure is necessary due to the separate construction costs of the Danapur–Bihta project and the rapid growth of Bihta as an airport, education, and industrial hub, which has increased traffic along the route.
The relocation of the Didarganj toll plaza is also under serious discussion. Vehicles travelling on the JP Ganga Path currently bypass the existing plaza, allowing many to reach Bakhtiyarpur without paying tolls. The toll collection agency has requested the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to shift the plaza eastward, ensuring all vehicles using the extended Ganga Path are included.
Local officials acknowledge concerns about collecting tolls within city limits, noting that Patna’s rapid metropolitan expansion makes urban tolls contentious. Most major cities do not levy tolls within the city, and the NHAI has clarified that tolls on national highways are generally spaced every 60 kilometres. Nevertheless, in this case, two plazas will cover roughly 100 kilometres between Patna and Koilwar, reflecting project costs and vehicle categorisation.
With evolving road networks and rising traffic, the toll landscape in and around Patna is likely to continue changing. The implementation of a two-toll system and the relocation of Didarganj plaza are expected to have lasting impacts on commuters and long-distance travellers alike.
