Double Decker Flyover Patna: Transforming the City’s Traffic Landscape
Patna, the bustling capital of Bihar, has recently witnessed a significant leap in urban infrastructure with the inauguration of its first-ever double-decker flyover on the busy Ashok Rajpath corridor. Opened to the public on June 11, 2025, by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, this ₹422 crore project is set to revolutionize traffic flow and connectivity in one of Patna’s most congested areas.
What is the Double Decker Flyover?
The flyover is a 2.2-kilometer-long elevated road with two independent levels, designed to optimize traffic flow. The innovative structure spreads across two tiers, each featuring an 8.5-meter-wide one-way carriageway:
- The upper deck extends from Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan to Science College.
- The lower deck connects Patna College Main Gate to Gandhi Maidan.
This design allows traffic to move in opposite directions on separate levels, thereby reducing congestion and improving commute times dramatically.
Key Features and Benefits
- Decongestion of Ashok Rajpath:
Ashok Rajpath is a critical artery in Patna, heavily used by daily commuters, students, and patients accessing major institutions like Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Patna University, and NIT Patna. The double-decker flyover provides an alternative, streamlined route, reducing severe bottlenecks. - Integration with Patna Metro and JP Ganga Path:
The flyover is designed to seamlessly link with ongoing projects, including the Patna Metro rail system and the JP Ganga Path (Marine Drive). Planned ramps and connections facilitate smooth transitions, enhancing the overall urban mobility ecosystem. - Reduced Travel Time:
The flyover cuts down travel time on this stretch to approximately 5-10 minutes, whereas earlier trips could take up to an hour or more during peak traffic. - Modern Engineering:
Built by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited, the flyover features state-of-the-art construction techniques aimed at durability and safety. Lighting, sound barriers, thermoplastic road markings, and proper landscaping have been included to ensure a modern driving experience. - Multi-level Connectivity:
Beneath the flyover, a service road supports uninterrupted local traffic flow. Additionally, planned connection to a multi-level parking facility near PMCH aims to alleviate parking woes in the area.
Challenges and Aftermath
Despite its successful launch, parts of the flyover faced issues amid heavy rains shortly after inauguration, reportedly sinking in some stretches, raising concerns about construction and maintenance. Local authorities have promised quick remedial measures to ensure the infrastructure remains safe and reliable for commuters.
Impact on Patna’s Future Transport
The double-decker flyover symbolizes Patna’s push toward becoming a smart, future-ready city. By addressing one of its most critical urban transport challenges, the project is expected to:
- Encourage the use of public transport by easing access and integration.
- Reduce pollution by cutting down traffic idling on congested roads.
- Boost economic activity by improving connectivity to educational, healthcare, and commercial hubs.
CM Nitish Kumar hailed the flyover as a landmark infrastructural achievement that will benefit thousands daily and pave the way for similar projects across Bihar.
Patna’s double-decker flyover marks a new era in urban mobility for Bihar’s capital city. With its innovative two-tier structure, strategic connectivity, and enormous potential to ease traffic woes, it is not just a feat of engineering but a symbol of progress.
As Patna continues to evolve with upcoming metro projects and other transport upgrades, this flyover stands as a shining example of blending innovation with practical solutions to create a more livable and accessible city for all its residents.
This modern marvel promises to redefine daily commuting in Patna and serves as a model for future infrastructure development in the region.
Patna has long suffered from serious traffic congestion, especially along Ashok Rajpath, a major artery connecting Kargil Chowk (near Gandhi Maidan) to Science College, PMCH, Patna University, BN College, and beyond. The city recently inaugurated its first ₹422 crore, 2.2 km long double‑decker flyover, marking a significant milestone in Bihar’s urban infrastructure development.
🚧 Project Overview & Strategic Vision
Initiated in December 2021, the flyover aimed to alleviate chronic congestion by segregating traffic into multiple levels: existing ground level, lower deck (~1.45 km), and upper deck (~2.2 km). These decks accommodate unidirectional traffic, easing flow between educational, medical, and residential zones.
Constructed by BRPNNL and built by Gawar Construction Limited, the flyover features two lanes per deck, each ~7.5 to 8.5 meters wide. It includes five ramps near Kargil Chowk, Patna College, BN College, Krishna Ghat, and Science College, with service roads beneath and enhanced connectivity to JP Ganga Path via Krishna Ghat. This design integrates urban flow with metro infrastructure, parking, and hospital access for patients and staff.
⏳ Construction Challenges & Delays
Originally targeted for completion by January 2025, then later February–March, the project experienced extensions due to coordination issues with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). Underground metro work near PMCH and Anjuman Islamiya Hall forced restraint on space and timelines. By March, only ~88% of superstructure and ~99% of substructure had been completed, delaying the expected opening to April 2025.
Local administration expedited work by shifting metro barricades and demolishing 51 shops along the service road—replacing them with newly constructed shops—to enable access lanes.
🎉 Inauguration & Immediate Impact
On June 11, 2025, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the flyover. The event drew widespread acclaim from commuters, e‑rickshaw drivers, shopkeepers, and students.
Travel time on the congested stretch dropped dramatically—from around 45 minutes to as little as 15 minutes.
E‑rickshaw driver Pintu Yadav reported:
“For a single trip from Kargil Chowk to Mahendru, it took more than 45 minutes... today, I covered the stretch in only 15 minutes.”
Local vendors praised the flyover’s understructure parking and uninterrupted pedestrian flow.
Students benefit with smoother commutes—Akansha from BN College now saves ~20 minutes daily.🌍 Urban Design & Community Benefits
This project reflects a multi-dimensional planning approach:
Three-layer traffic structure: metro, dual flyover decks, and service roads.
Service road creation: facilitates local access and reshapes commercial flow.
Noise reduction and aesthetics: inclusion of noise barriers, LED lighting, and green spaces under the structure.
Institutional connectivity: enhanced access for PMCH, Patna University, Science/Patna College, BN College, and Khuda Bakhsh Library—all without disturbing heritage structures.
Parking integration: links to PMCH’s multi-level parking, enabling smoother patient transfers via ambulance ramps.🗣️ Admin Directives & Local Concerns
Despite the success, concerns emerged over service road conditions during construction—damaged areas have been slated for restoration by the end of May 2025, with notices issued to responsible agencies. The Patna DM intervened to shift metro barricading to minimize structural conflicts.
By removing encroachment and delaying metro barricades, authorities ensured completion by March–April 2025, turning the flyover from a vision into a reality.
🏁 What Lies Ahead
With civil construction largely done, finishing work continues through ground-level road repairs and service lane development. The flyover project has:
Liberated traffic on Ashok Rajpath.
Enhanced urban mobility for students, healthcare, commerce, vendors, and residents.
Prepared Patna for future growth and public transport integration.This ambitious infrastructure marks both a physical and strategic turn for Bihar’s capital—supporting healthier urban circulation, boosting economic activity, and setting a precedent for integrated city planning.
✍️ Final Thoughts
Patna’s double-decker flyover embodies modern urban engineering: innovative design, stakeholder coordination, heritage protection, and community impact. With travel times slashed, noise reduced, and traffic complexity resolved, Patna not only meets its current needs—it forecasts a smarter, efficient urban future.