Patna: Patna’s busy Bailey Road is set for a major transformation as the state government moves ahead with a road-widening project aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving movement along one of the capital’s most important corridors.
The Bihar Cabinet has approved Rs 39.80 crore for widening the Bailey Road stretch between Dak Bungalow Chowk and Rukanpura.
The project will cover approximately 7.20 kilometres and is expected to create additional road space at several congested points, helping improve traffic movement, particularly during peak hours and periods of heavy traffic.
Road to Be Widened Within Available Right of Way
The road will be widened according to the available right of way along the 7.20-km stretch.
Where necessary, existing drains and footpaths will be removed or modified to create additional space for the carriageway. The move is aimed at making better use of the available road corridor without unnecessarily expanding beyond the designated right of way.
Bailey Road witnesses heavy movement of private vehicles, public transport and other vehicles every day. Traffic pressure also increases considerably during peak hours and VIP movements, making the widening project important for Patna’s overall traffic management.
Boundary Walls to Be Shifted at Key Locations
Several stretches of Bailey Road have limited road width because of structures and boundary walls along the roadside. To address this problem, selected boundary walls will be shifted backwards at key locations.
Under the plan, the boundary wall near Kotwali Police Station will be shifted over 150 metres, while the wall near Niyojan Bhawan will be shifted over 400 metres.
Similarly, a 500-metre stretch of boundary wall near the BPSC office and a 110-metre stretch near Maurya Lok will be shifted.
The additional space created by moving these walls is expected to help improve road capacity and traffic movement, especially during busy periods.
Service Lanes Near Raja Bazar Overbridge to Be Improved
Changes are also planned around the Lohia Path Flyover, also known as Raja Bazar Overbridge.
The service lanes on both sides of the flyover will be reorganised, with a 5-kilometre-long grille planned to prevent encroachment and keep the service lanes within their designated boundaries.
Service lanes in several parts of Patna often face temporary encroachments and unauthorised use, reducing the space available for vehicles. The proposed grille is expected to help maintain clear service lanes and improve traffic movement around the flyover.
Utility Shifting and New Signboards Planned
The road-widening project will also include utility shifting wherever required.
Electricity, telecommunications and other utility infrastructure may be relocated to facilitate the road construction work. New road and traffic signboards will also be installed to provide motorists with clearer information about directions, routes and traffic arrangements.
These measures are expected to complement the physical widening of the road and improve the overall driving experience.
Bailey Road Crucial for Patna’s Traffic Network
Bailey Road is one of Patna’s major arterial roads and connects several important areas of the capital.
The road carries significant daily traffic and also experiences increased pressure during administrative activities and VIP movements. As a result, improving its capacity is important not only for reducing congestion but also for strengthening Patna’s broader traffic network.
The project aims to make better use of roadside space and provide additional room for vehicle movement at identified bottlenecks.
Land Transfer Approved for Digha Bridge Approach Road
The Cabinet has also approved a separate measure related to Patna’s road infrastructure.
Land transfer has been cleared for construction of the approach road to the Digha road-cum-rail bridge.
Under the decision, 1.5587 acres of land in the Dhanaut, Jalalpur and Rukanpura mouzas of Danapur circle will be transferred to the Railways.
In addition, 17.085 acres of land belonging to the Water Resources Department will be transferred to the Road Construction Department.
The availability of land is expected to facilitate development of the approach road and strengthen connectivity around the Digha area.
Patna’s Road Network Set for a Major Push
The Bailey Road widening project and the land transfer for the Digha bridge approach road represent significant steps towards improving Patna’s road infrastructure.
While Rs 39.80 crore has been approved for widening the 7.20-km Bailey Road stretch, the land transfer decision will help clear the way for further road development around Digha.
If the widening, utility shifting, encroachment-control measures and installation of signboards are completed as planned, traffic movement along these important corridors could become more organised.
For thousands of commuters who travel on Bailey Road every day, the project could provide significant relief from congestion and improve connectivity across Patna.
