Patna: The Bihar government is preparing to undertake another major road infrastructure project in the capital, with plans for a 12-kilometre elevated-and-at-grade corridor connecting Saristabad to Didarganj. Estimated to cost Rs 3,675 crore, the project is expected to ease traffic congestion at several of Patna’s busiest junctions and improve connectivity along the New Bypass.
The proposal is currently under evaluation by the Centre, and construction is expected to begin once it receives approval from the Union Cabinet.
Bihar Asked To Contribute Rs 1,600 Crore
According to officials, the Centre has asked the Bihar government to contribute around Rs 1,600 crore towards the project.
The state’s share will cover 25% of the civil construction cost, State GST, seigniorage charges on construction materials and other associated expenses.
Six-Lane Elevated Corridor
The project’s centrepiece is a 7.51-kilometre six-lane elevated corridor extending from Didarganj to a point near Mithapur Bus Stand.
To improve local connectivity, 21.84 kilometres of service roads will also be built on both sides of the corridor, allowing easier access for residents living in adjoining neighbourhoods.
Designed To Improve Traffic Flow
The project includes several supporting structures aimed at improving traffic management across the corridor, including:
- 10 entry and exit ramps
- Two flyovers
- An eight-lane Road Over Bridge (ROB) across the Patna–Gaya railway line
- Three minor bridges
- Four underpasses for light vehicles
- More than five kilometres of drainage infrastructure
Officials believe these features will help reduce both traffic congestion and waterlogging in the area.
To Be Built Under Hybrid Annuity Model
The corridor will be developed under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
Under this arrangement, the government will finance 40% of the project cost during construction, while the executing agency will invest the remaining 60%. The government will subsequently reimburse the agency, along with interest, over a 15-year period, which includes operation and maintenance costs.
Relief For New Bypass Commuters
The project is expected to benefit more than one million residents living along the New Bypass corridor.
Heavy traffic, particularly from trucks and other commercial vehicles, frequently causes congestion at key intersections, including Anisabad, 90 Feet Road, Bhootnath Road, Pahari Mor, and stretches of the New Bypass.
Officials say the new corridor is expected to streamline the movement of heavy vehicles, reduce travel time, lower fuel consumption and provide relief to lakhs of daily commuters, making it one of the capital’s most significant transport infrastructure projects in recent years.
