Patna : The final stretch of the JP Ganga Path – Patna’s ambitious riverside expressway project – is set to open to the public on April 10, extending the corridor from Kangan Ghat to Didarganj. With this, vehicles will now be able to travel the entire 20.5km length from Digha to Didarganj.
Authorities have confirmed that the expressway will remain off-limits to heavy commercial vehicles. Only small and light vehicles will be allowed, a move intended to ensure smooth, congestion-free traffic along the route.
The development is expected to significantly ease travel for emergency services, especially ambulances coming from Didarganj, which will now have direct access to Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) and AIIMS Patna. Currently, commuters face long delays near Zeromile and along the bypass when heading from Gaighat to Didarganj.
According to the Bihar State Road Development Corporation, construction of the final segment was delayed slightly due to technical issues involving span joints, pushing the completion date from the original April 1 deadline to April 10.
The JP Ganga Path project was launched in October 2013 with an initial four-year timeline and a projected cost of Rs 3,160 crore. However, the project took 137 months – nearly three times longer than planned – and incurred an additional Rs 1,000 crore in expenses due to extended timelines and the incorporation of additional work.
Further expansion on the cards
The state government is now eyeing a westward expansion of the Ganga Path from Digha to Koilwar. Tenders will be floated soon for the 36.65km extension, which includes an elevated road from Digha to Sherpur and onwards via Maner Dam to Koilwar. The proposed budget for this phase is Rs 6,689.7 crore.
Additionally, a four-lane road from Didarganj to Athmalgola is planned on the eastern side of the current stretch. Beyond Rajendra Setu, the old NH-31 will be widened by 10 metres up to Mokama. This section is expected to cost Rs 1,121.49 crore.
