Ganga PathPatna: The Bihar government has defended its flagship riverfront road project, insisting it be known as Ganga Path rather than “Marine Drive”, as opposition and ruling party members alike pressed for its expansion further west to Buxar.
Speaking in the state assembly, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary said it was inappropriate to compare the project to Mumbai’s seafront boulevard. “People of Bihar should call it Ganga Path,” he told legislators, arguing that the development matches any similar urban riverfront project in terms of design and structure. He described it as part of a new identity for the state and claimed it had drawn praise even from visitors from Mumbai.
The debate gathered momentum after a BJP MLA demanded that the corridor be extended from Koilwar to Buxar. Responding on behalf of the government, Industries Minister Dilip Kumar Jaiswal said the scheme was being developed under the leadership of chief minister Nitish Kumar, calling it his “dream project”. He said the ambition went beyond building a road, framing it instead as a vehicle for broader economic and infrastructural development. According to Jaiswal, the expansion would be undertaken in phases.
Ministers also outlined a more expansive vision stretching beyond Buxar. The government told the assembly that the long-term plan is to link Varanasi to Farakka, creating a continuous corridor along the Ganges. Officials said the proposal includes integrating road connectivity with water transport, potentially strengthening inland navigation alongside surface infrastructure.
Work is already under way to extend the route from Munger to Sabour, Koilwar and Bidupur, with the aim of improving connectivity for towns along the riverbank. The project is expected to ease traffic congestion in urban centres while supporting tourism and trade. Government representatives said the corridor would also generate employment and contribute to riverfront beautification, positioning Ganga Path as a central pillar in Bihar’s long-term development strategy.
