Patna: Travellers heading from Patna towards Punpun and Gaya Ji are set to get a smoother route with the opening of a 2.10-kilometre four-lane elevated road between Mithapur and Sipara.
Built at a cost of Rs 231.23 crore, the elevated road forms Phase II of the Mithapur-Mahuli-Punpun project and has been developed by the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited.
Direct link with Phase I corridor
A key feature of the new elevated road is its direct connection with the Phase I elevated road, creating a continuous four-lane elevated corridor for vehicular movement.
The new link is expected to reduce traffic-related delays for vehicles travelling from Patna towards Punpun and Gaya Ji by allowing them to bypass several congested stretches of the city.
The route could be particularly useful during the Pitru Paksha Mela, when large numbers of pilgrims from across India and abroad travel to Punpun and Gaya Ji.
Better connectivity with national highways
The elevated corridor will connect Patna with Gaya Ji through NH-22 and improve connectivity with the Patna Ring Road (NH-131G).
The four-lane closed-circuit corridor will also link the Patna-Gaya, Gaya-Bihar Sharif, Bihar Sharif-Bakhtiyarpur and Bakhtiyarpur-Patna routes through NH-83, NH-82, NH-31 and NH-30.
The improved connectivity is expected to facilitate access to major Buddhist and tourism destinations, including Gaya and Rajgir.
Noise barriers and anti-glare screens installed
The project incorporates several features aimed at improving safety and reducing the impact of traffic on nearby residents.
Noise barriers have been installed along the entire elevated stretch to reduce traffic noise for people living in the surrounding areas.
Streetlights have also been installed throughout the corridor to improve visibility and safety at night.
Anti-glare screens have been installed along the median to prevent drivers from being dazzled by the headlights of vehicles travelling in the opposite direction.
UHPFRC technology used for the first time in Bihar
The project has also introduced Ultra-High Performance Fibre Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) technology in Bihar for the first time, according to the project details.
A 64-metre-long UHPFRC girder has been constructed over NH-30.
The structure has been designed to preserve the required space for a proposed six-lane elevated corridor between Anishabad and Gurudwara Mor in the future.
The new Mithapur-Sipara elevated road is therefore expected to serve not only as a direct link towards Punpun and Gaya Ji but also as an important component of Patna’s broader road and elevated-corridor network.
