Patna: Patna’s efforts to tackle chronic waterlogging and traffic congestion received renewed attention on Sunday as Nitish Kumar inspected the ongoing construction of the Kurji (Rajiv Nagar) and Anandpuri drain projects. During the visit to the Ashiyana–Digha Road area, the Chief Minister directed officials to speed up the pace of work, stressing the need for timely completion to deliver relief to residents who face annual flooding during the monsoon.
The projects involve concretising existing drainage channels and constructing roads over them, a model that officials say will both improve water flow and create additional urban road space. According to the state government, the upgraded infrastructure is expected to reduce waterlogging in key neighbourhoods while improving daily commuting through new two-lane roads built above the drains.
Nitish Kumar said the schemes stemmed from commitments made during the “Pragati Yatra” in February 2025, when development works in Patna district were reviewed and residents raised concerns about poor drainage and difficult road access. Officials said public feedback during those visits played a role in shaping the current plans, which aim to combine civic infrastructure with transport improvements rather than addressing each issue separately.
The Rajiv Nagar drain, considered a crucial component of Patna’s drainage system, stretches about 4.26 kilometres from Digha Ashiyana Road to the Kurji drainage pumping station. The Anandpuri drain, roughly 4 kilometres long, runs from Baba Chowk past Atal Path and near A.N. College before connecting to the Rajapur Pul pumping station. Both projects are designed to modernise the city’s drainage network while supporting urban mobility in densely populated areas.
