Patna Marine Drive JP Ganga Path: Everything You Should Know About Patna’s Own ‘Marine Drive’

The ‘Marine Drive’ constitutes a segment of the Ganga Path development initiative, encompassing a 20.5km four-lane expressway that stretches from Digha to Didarganj in Patna.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar officially launched the initial phase of the Ganga Path project in Patna, providing the city with its own version of ‘Marine Drive’.

The pathway, linking Digha to Patna Medical College and Hospital (formerly the Prince of Wales Medical College), has drawn comparisons to Mumbai’s Marine Drive and London’s Thames Path. This road has been established alongside the Ganga River atop a 13-meter-high dam.

This stretch constitutes a component of the Ganga Path development initiative, encompassing a 20.5km four-lane expressway that extends from Digha to Didarganj in Patna. In the subsequent phase, the roadway will be elongated by approximately 18km to reach Fatuha, a significant industrial hub situated 24km east of Patna.

“A section of the JP Ganga Path is now operational, with completion anticipated by early 2024 to provide enhanced facilities to the public. The work is progressing well, with expansion planned on both sides,” stated the Chief Minister during the inauguration event on Friday.

This project is a collaborative effort between the Government of India’s Housing and Urban Development Corporation and the Government of Bihar. The projected cost of this initiative is estimated to be Rs 3,160 crore.

The project was conceptualised in 2010 and accepted by the government in 2011. The foundation stone for the project was laid by Chief Minister Kumar on 11 October 2013, on the birth anniversary of politician and activist Jayaprakash Narayan, popularly referred to as JP.

The new stretch will ensure a smooth traffic flow between east and west Patna and ease traffic congestion at Ashok Rajpath.

The Ganga Path is part of a larger urban rejuvenation plan for Patna.

Upon its completion, the pathway will establish a connection between National Highway 30 and the AIIMS-Digha elevated corridor on the western side, while reaching the forthcoming six-lane Kacchi Dargah-Bidupur bridge across the Ganga River on the eastern side of the city.

In conjunction with the creation of the ‘Marine Drive’, Patna is concurrently engaged in the enhancement of a riverfront along the Ganga as part of a project funded by the World Bank.

Within the framework of this initiative, the development of 20 ghats and the establishment of three cultural centers was planned for a 2.3km stretch. Nevertheless, the project has encountered multiple instances of delays.