Patna: Patna’s traffic system is set for a significant overhaul after the central government approved the widening and expansion of a key road corridor connecting Punpun to Didarganj. The proposed stretch, linking National Highway 22 to National Highway 31, is expected to operate as a ring-road-like bypass, reducing congestion inside the city and improving regional mobility.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways cleared the project following discussions between Union minister Nitin Gadkari and Patna MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, who confirmed the development. Officials say the corridor will provide motorists with a direct route around the capital, allowing them to avoid entering the crowded urban core and easing pressure on existing arterial roads.
The proposal was first raised during the ‘Pragati Yatra’, when Prasad presented the plan to Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar. The state government subsequently directed the concerned departments to forward the project to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for approval. With the clearance now granted, construction is expected to begin once technical and administrative processes are completed.
Under the plan, NH-22 near Punpun will connect to NH-31 at Didarganj via State Highway 1, passing through Gaurichak and nearby areas. The new alignment is designed as a strategic alternative corridor, enabling smoother east–west movement across Patna and reducing travel time for daily commuters.
The project is also expected to strengthen industrial and commercial connectivity. Improved access between the Fatuha industrial area, Bakhtiyarpur, Didarganj and Gaya could benefit freight movement and local businesses. At Didarganj, the corridor will integrate with the 26 kilometre Ganga Path, further enhancing the city’s transport network and providing faster access to several parts of Patna.
Residents of surrounding villages including Kandap, Lanka Kachhuara, Gopalpur, Gaurichak, Fatehpur, Sampatchak, Madhavpur and Punpun are likely to benefit from reduced congestion and better road access. The link will also make journeys towards North Bihar, Bhagalpur and West Bengal more convenient through NH-22, NH-31 and the Rajendra Setu.
Officials view the scheme as part of a broader push to modernise Patna’s infrastructure and address long-standing traffic challenges in one of eastern India’s fastest-growing cities.
