Patna : Patna Sahib MP and former Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has secured approval from Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari for the extension and widening of the Gaurichak-Punpun Suraksha Dam route, connecting NH-22 near Punpun to NH-31 near Didarganj via SH-01.
Ravi Shankar Prasad met Gadkari at his office in Parliament on July 20 to push for the project, which is expected to ease congestion and improve connectivity for lakhs of commuters. Nitin Gadkari assured Ravi Shankar that immediate action would be taken. This follows a similar meeting last September when Prasad raised the same demand.
The proposal also gained traction at the state level. During the Pragati Yatra last month, Ravi Shankar Prasad met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and highlighted the need for the project. In response, Kumar directed the concerned department to submit a proposal to the National Highways Authority, which was promptly forwarded last month.
The proposed road widening is expected to benefit thousands of commuters traveling between Fatuha Industrial Area and Gaya via Bakhtiyarpur-Didarganj. Additionally, connecting this route to the 26 km-long Ganga Pathway near Didarganj will enhance mobility for residents of Patna city. Areas along the route, including Kandap, Lanka Kachuara, Gopalpur, Gaurichak, Madhavpur, and Punpun, which currently face severe traffic congestion, are also set to benefit.
The upgraded road is expected to function as a ring road around Patna, creating a direct link between NH-22 and NH-31. This connection will improve access to Rajendra Setu, facilitating smoother travel from southern Bihar to northern and western regions of the state via Bhagalpur.
