Patna: Bihar CM Nitish Kumar to open first phase of Ganga driveway on June 24

PATNA: The first phase of the much-awaited JP Ganga Path or Ganga driveway, which is being constructed along the bank of the Ganga in Patna for nearly a decade now, will be inaugurated by chief minister Nitish Kumar on June 24.
The Mitahpur arm of Karbigahiya railway over bridge (ROB) and the second phase of Atal Path (R Block-Digha six-lane road) will also be inaugurated on the same day.

An announcement in this regard was made by road construction minister Nitin Nabin during an inspection of the Ganga Path on Tuesday. The minister was accompanied by additional chief secretary (road) Pratyaya Amrit and several other senior officials of the department.

“We had set a target to complete the first phase of Ganga Path along with the approach road connecting Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) by June and our officials and engineers left no stones unturned to complete the project within the deadline,” Nabin said.
The minister added the first phase of Ganga Path between Digha and PMCH is 7.4km, out of which the stretch of 6.5km is semi-elevated. “The 40-metre-wide road is accompanied by a 5-metre-wide walkway,” Nabin said
The foundation stone for the 20.50-km-long Ganga Path between Digha and Nasriganj was laid by the CM in 2013. It is elevated on the stretch of 11.70km and being constructed with an estimated expenditure of Rs 3,390 crore.
An elevated approach road between PMCH and Ganga Path has also been made ready. The 1.12-km-long elevated approach road has been constructed with an expenditure of Rs 131 crore. The approach road will provide direct connectivity to PMCH for patients coming from southern parts of Patna, including AIIMS, via AIIMS-Digha elevated highway. The ramp of the elevated approach road will culminate near Rajendra Surgical Ward of the PMCH.
Apart from PMCH, the Ganga Path will have approach roads at six other places, including A N Sinha Institute of Social Studies, LCT Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Gai Ghat, Kangan Ghat and Patna Ghat. It is also getting connected with the second phase of six-lane R Block-Digha Road, which will also be inaugurated on June 24.
The 6.5-km-long R Block-Digha six-lane road under the first phase of Atal Path was inaugurated by CM Nitish on January 15 last year. The 1.30-km-long four-lane road under the second phase of Atal Path connects it to Ganga Path via a rotary on the bank of the Ganga at Digha.
“The construction of the second phase of Atal Path will allow vehicles coming from Nehru Path (Bailey Road) to go directly to Ganga Path as well as J P Setu via the newly-constructed rotary at Digha,” Nabin said.
On Mithapur ROB, the minister said, “Decks for construction of Mithapur arm of Karbigahiya ROB were cleared by the Centre in December last year. This elevated structure has been constructed on the Patna-Gaya rail section. Construction of this flyover will allow vehicles coming from Kankarbagh to directly go towards Gandanibagh and Khagaul in south Patna, thus reducing the vehicular load on Bailey Road.”