Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has announced that Bihar will soon get a 100 km long four-lane marine drive from Munger to Bhagalpur. This marine drive will be built along the lines of Patna’s marine drive on the banks of river Ganga. The government will spend around Rs 10,000 crore on this big project to improve road connectivity in the state.
Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin shared this information during his visit to Sultanganj on Saturday. He said all preparations have been completed and the project will get the Chief Minister’s approval soon, possibly during or just after the inauguration of the Shravani Mela. The construction work will start once the state cabinet gives a green signal.
This marine drive will be built under the hybrid annuity model. Under this system, 60 percent of the money will be spent by the private agency building the road while 40 percent will be spent by the government. Officials said CM Nitish Kumar is expected to approve the project between July 12 and 13. This will become Bihar’s second marine drive and its longest so far.
At present, Patna has a marine drive that is about 20.5 km long, from Digha to Didarganj. Its expansion has also been approved. The government plans to widen the old NH up to Koilwar bridge in the west and extend the road from Didarganj to Mokama via Fatuha and Bakhtiyarpur in the east. Minister Nitin Nabin also said work for an airport in Sultanganj is progressing rapidly and all road work related to the Shravani Mela will be completed by July 9.
