Patna: The Bihar government is preparing a large-scale underground electricity cabling project for Patna, Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur, with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore, officials at the state electricity company have said. The proposal, currently being finalised at the company’s headquarters, will be placed before the state cabinet for approval before tenders are invited.
Under the plan, underground cabling will be implemented wherever feasible, while covered electrical wires will be installed in areas where future road construction or other constraints make underground work impractical. Officials said covered wires significantly reduce the risk of electric shock and have already been deployed in several parts of Patna.
The proposed project builds on earlier underground cabling work carried out in the state capital. In the first phase, cables were laid from Income Tax roundabout to R Block via Airport Chowk, extending towards the Raj Bhavan area. However, the work could be completed on only one side of the road.
A second phase is now set to address the remaining sections. Equipment for the work has already been procured, according to officials, and construction is expected to begin shortly from the Dak Bungalow area, including stretches of Nehru Path where cabling could not be completed earlier.
Alongside this, the electricity company is developing a broader, state-level underground cabling scheme. The Rs 500-crore project aims to achieve comprehensive underground cabling across Patna and selected areas of Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur. Local electricity divisions in Bhagalpur and Muzaffarpur will determine priority zones based on need and feasibility.
Once approved by the cabinet, the government will begin the process of selecting an implementing agency. Officials said work under the proposed scheme is expected to commence next year, marking one of the state’s most significant investments in power infrastructure aimed at improving urban safety and reliability.
