Patna: The areas surrounding Patna Junction and Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport are set to undergo a major redesign, as civic authorities plan to introduce landscaped greenery, decorative lighting and ornamental fencing in an effort to improve the city’s visual appeal.
Under proposals by the Patna Municipal Corporation, a significant budget allocation has been made to upgrade the stretch linking New Market, opposite the railway station, to Sheikhpura Mor near the airport. The initiative aims to create a “resort-like” aesthetic along one of the city’s busiest corridors.
Central to the project is the installation of computer numerical control (CNC) panels along road medians. These mild steel structures will function as both protective barriers for plants and decorative features, complemented by integrated lighting systems designed to enhance visibility and ambience after dark.
A pilot scheme has already been completed along a 700ft stretch between the city zoo and Pancharupi Mahavir Temple in Rajvanshi Nagar. The installation includes dual lighting arrangements: inward-facing lights illuminating the plants, and median lights that create a patterned glow across the roadway at dusk.
Officials said the CNC panels — more commonly associated with private gardens, hotels and resorts — are being used in a public infrastructure project at this scale for the first time in India. Art students have also been enlisted to paint the panels with intricate designs, adding a cultural dimension to the development.
Further works include the construction of a triangular park near the Patna Junction roundabout, alongside broader landscaping efforts across the airport road. Authorities said improvements to lighting and visibility along the route to Nehru Path are also planned.
The project is being carried out in coordination with railway and metro authorities, with officials saying additional amenities will be introduced in the coming months. The aim, they added, is to present a greener cityscape by day and a well-lit urban corridor by night.
