Patna: People travelling across Patna may soon see major changes on some of the city’s busiest roads and flyovers after the Bihar government ordered urgent repairs and traffic improvement work in several areas. On Friday, Road Construction Department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal carried out a detailed inspection of important roads across the city and directed engineers to immediately fix damaged stretches, improve road quality and reduce traffic congestion.
The inspection covered major routes including J.P. Ganga Path, Atal Path, Patli Path and the Raja Bazar-Rupaspur area. During the visit, officials checked road conditions, traffic movement and structural problems that have been troubling commuters for months. The secretary warned engineers and contractors that negligence in maintenance work would not be accepted and said all repair work must be completed within fixed deadlines. He stressed that the department’s main priority was to provide smooth and safe roads for the public.
At several locations on Atal Path, serious problems were identified during the inspection. Officials were instructed to repair the uneven road level near Nehru Path within 15 days. The department also ordered immediate repairs at the Shivpuri Flyover, Digha Flyover approach and Digha Rotary, where road settlement issues have created difficulties for drivers and slowed traffic movement. Those works were ordered to be completed within three days because of their urgent nature.
The secretary later inspected the J.P. Ganga Path stretch between Digha and Didarganj. During the inspection, a sunken slab near the Kurji bridge was found to be affecting the road surface. Officials were directed to fix the problem within 10 days. Uneven road surfaces between Gai Ghat and Kangan Ghat were also highlighted, and engineers were asked to complete corrective work within one month so that commuters could travel more comfortably.
Patli Path also came under focus after officials noticed that the rubber parts of the expansion joints had worn out and the upper road surface had deteriorated badly. The department instructed engineers to prepare and submit a new Detailed Project Report within three days. Maintenance work on the stretch from the AIIMS roundabout to the J.P. Setu approach is now being handled through the STMC system to improve monitoring and speed up repairs.
One of the biggest concerns raised during the inspection was the heavy traffic congestion near Raja Bazar Flyover. Pankaj Kumar Pal personally reviewed the area and ordered immediate action to improve traffic flow. Officials were directed to coordinate with the district administration and forest department to identify land needed for removing four trees located near the junction. The department is also considering relocating a temple from the area after approval from higher authorities. Instructions were additionally given to remove roadside obstacles such as electric poles, gantries, bus stops and encroachments that are narrowing the road and causing traffic delays.
The inspection also included Ashiana Mor on the Ashiana-Digha road, where officials were asked to remove illegal encroachments and begin the process of acquiring land for future road widening. The secretary said the government was also working on a long-term solution to reduce congestion between R-Block and the Patna railway station roundabout. A proposal for a new four-lane road costing around Rs 256 crore has already been prepared. Officials believe the project could provide major relief to thousands of daily commuters travelling to and from Patna Junction in the coming years.
At the end of the inspection, the secretary directed all engineers to complete the assigned work on time and ensure that people do not face unnecessary inconvenience during travel. He said improving the riding quality of roads across Patna remained one of the department’s top priorities and made it clear that there would be no compromise on road safety and maintenance standards.
