Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday inspected several ongoing infrastructure works under the JP Ganga Path project in Patna and directed officials to accelerate construction so that the projects can be completed within the scheduled timeframe.
During the visit, Kumar reviewed the progress of an under-construction link road connecting Patna Sahib Railway Station to Patna Ghat at Malasalami–Marufganj. The 1.5km-long road is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 52.54 crore and is expected to provide a direct connection to the JP Ganga Path once completed.
The chief minister said the link road would play an important role in improving local mobility in Patna City. He noted that the project would reduce traffic congestion and make commuting easier for residents. According to officials, the road will also help ease pressure on Ashok Rajpath and the Marufganj Mandi area, where traffic congestion has long been a concern.
Authorities said the new link will connect JP Ganga Path with the new NH-30 through a railway overbridge at Patna Sahib Railway Station. It will also improve connectivity to nearby neighbourhoods such as Dalhatta and Charkhipar, which are expected to benefit from smoother traffic flow and reduced travel time.
Later, Kumar visited Kangan Ghat to review progress on the four-lane widening and construction of the Bhadra Ghat–Didarganj road, a project approved at a cost of Rs 158.40 crore. The 7.8km stretch has been divided into four sections, covering the route from Bhadra Ghat through Mirchai Ghat and Patna Ghat to Sharifaganj Ghat and Didarganj.
Officials said the existing two-lane road between Bhadra Ghat and Damrahi Ghat has already helped reduce vehicle pressure on Ashok Rajpath. Once the entire stretch is widened to four lanes, traffic congestion in Patna City is expected to ease further, improving movement for daily commuters.
The expanded corridor will also make it easier for people to reach the Ganga river during festivals such as Chhath and other religious and social occasions, when thousands of devotees travel to the ghats. Several senior officials, including water resources minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Patna district magistrate Dr Tyagarajan S M, accompanied the chief minister during the inspection.
