Patna: Patna is set for a significant upgrade to its transport infrastructure as work begins on the second phase of the JP Ganga Path, a project expected to reshape mobility across Bihar and into eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Construction on the 35.65km corridor is due to start in December, according to the Bihar State Road Development Corporation. The project, estimated at Rs 5,500 crore, will link Digha in Patna to a proposed modern bridge over the Son River near Koilwar, via Sherpur. Officials say the aim is to offer “fast, safe and high-speed” connectivity between the capital and regions including Buxar, western Bihar and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Nearly 18km of the route will be elevated to ease congestion in dense parts of the city, ensuring uninterrupted traffic flow. The project is being developed under the state’s “Hum Model”, in which the construction agency is responsible for building and maintaining the road for 15 years.
Under the financial structure, the agency will invest Rs 3,300 crore, while the state government will contribute Rs 2,200 crore – 40% of the total. The government will repay 60% of the cost, including interest, to the agency over the 15-year maintenance period, with additional payments earmarked for annual upkeep.
Authorities have instructed the contractor to begin site mobilisation, including transporting materials, with the aim of completing the project in around four years.
Once opened, JP Ganga Path Phase 2 is expected to deliver a significant improvement in regional connectivity. The route will link directly to five major bridges over the Ganga – Digha, Sherpur–Dighwara, Veer Kunwar Singh, Janeshwar Mishra and the Buxar–Ghazipur crossing.
The corridor will also enhance access to western Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh through its connection to the Koilwar Bridge. Officials say travel between Patna and Buxar could eventually be reduced to high-speed transit at 100–120km/h, with Buxar serving as a gateway to the Purvanchal Expressway and further onward to Delhi.
State planners claim the project will not only alter traffic patterns in Patna but stimulate broader economic activity across Bihar and Purvanchal, positioning the new corridor as a catalyst for growth in the region.
