Patna: Bailey Road between Rupaspur and Saguna Mor in Patna is set to be widened to 14 lanes under a major infrastructure push aimed at tackling chronic congestion in the city’s expanding western corridor.
At present, the stretch comprises six main lanes, flanked by open underground drains and two-lane service roads on either side. Under the new plan, box drains will be constructed along both sides of the 2.7km corridor, over which additional two-lane carriageways will be built. Once completed, the combined configuration will effectively turn the road into a 14-lane corridor.
Engineers from the Road Construction Department said the box drain-cum-road project would cost Rs 318.51 crore, with a target for completion by December.
The expansion comes amid rapid urbanisation between Rupaspur and Saguna Mor, where apartment complexes have proliferated over the past decade. Officials estimate that the population in the area has increased nearly tenfold in 10 years, placing sustained pressure on existing road infrastructure and resulting in frequent traffic jams.
Signal-Free Stretch Under Lohia Pathchakra
From Saguna Turn to Income Tax Roundabout, Bailey Road has already been made traffic signal-free under the Lohia Pathchakra project. Around 10km of the corridor has been redesigned to allow uninterrupted movement.
However, bottlenecks persist beyond Rupaspur Bridge, particularly at Gola Road, RPS Turn and Saguna Turn. Officials believe that widening the stretch from Rupaspur Bridge to Saguna Turn will enable smoother travel between Dak Bungalow and Danapur.
Canal Road To Be Widened
In a parallel project, the canal road from Khagaul to Digha is being expanded from two lanes to four. The 6.90km project is being executed at a cost of Rs 7.48 crore, with about 25% of the work completed. The target for completion is October.
Once finished, the widened canal road is expected to provide easier access from Bailey Road to Ashok Rajpath, JP Ganga Path, JP Setu in Digha, Danapur station, the Danapur-Bihta elevated road, Patna AIIMS and Khagaul.
Patli Path Link To Bailey Road
Patli Path is also being connected to Bailey Road between Digha and Patna AIIMS. According to engineers from the Bihar State Road Development Corporation, a down ramp pillar on the southern side of Bailey Road is under construction. After this, a northern pillar will be built for the up ramp.
Vehicles will ascend from Bailey Road onto Patli Path via the up ramp and descend back through the down ramp. A U-turn facility on Patli Path will enable lane changes. The project is estimated to cost Rs 143.86 crore and is scheduled for completion by December 2027.
Officials say the link will create alternative routes and ease congestion at Rupaspur Bridge, while also reducing traffic load on Bailey Road and Canal Road.
Gola Road Expansion
Gola Road is being widened from two lanes to four, with box drains under construction and electricity poles being relocated. The project is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 21.34 crore.
Authorities expect the expansion to offer a better alternative route for commuters travelling from Bailey Road to Ashok Rajpath, further distributing traffic across the network.
Taken together, the projects represent one of the most extensive road upgrades in western Patna in recent years, as planners attempt to keep pace with the area’s rapid residential and commercial growth.
