Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has announced plans to develop a 126-km Marine Drive along the Ganga, extending the state’s existing riverfront road infrastructure from the Patna region towards Koilwar on the Son River. The proposed project is estimated to involve an investment of ₹70,000 crore.
The announcement was made during the concluding ceremony of an Employment Fair at Gyan Bhawan near Gandhi Maidan in Patna on August 23. Choudhary said the project is intended to expand infrastructure, create employment opportunities and open up new avenues for investment across sectors.
₹70,000-Crore Corridor: Funding Plan
According to the Chief Minister, the proposed investment would be divided between the state government and private entities.
Read Also: Bihar Plans Greenfield Satellite Townships Across 11 Districts to Build Modern New Cities
The proposed funding structure is:
- ₹20,000 crore: Bihar government contribution
- ₹50,000 crore: Expected private-sector investment
- ₹70,000 crore: Total estimated investment
- 126 km: Proposed length of the extended corridor
Choudhary said the project would also generate employment and create opportunities across different sectors.
“This time, we are starting from Koilwar on the Son River and extending the project along the entire stretch of Ganga. We have approved the construction of a Marine Drive spanning approximately 126 kilometres, involving an investment of around ₹70,000 crore,” he said.
Existing J.P. Ganga Path to Form the Base
The proposed expansion builds on Patna’s existing J.P. Ganga Path, popularly referred to as the city’s Marine Drive.
The existing stretch is around 21 km long and was initiated in 2013 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. It was completed in 2025 at an estimated cost of around ₹6,000 crore, according to Choudhary.
The Chief Minister said the earlier project was developed using state resources and that the government has now decided to extend the concept along a much larger stretch of the Ganga.
“You can see the Marine Drive here now. Mumbai built its Marine Drive back in 1970. Nitish Kumar initiated this project in 2013, and it was completed by 2025,” Choudhary said.
Focus on Infrastructure and Employment
The proposed corridor is being presented as more than a road project, with the state linking the investment to employment generation and the development of new economic opportunities.
Choudhary said Bihar needs to create avenues across sectors related to both infrastructure and employment, and the proposed Ganga corridor is part of that broader approach.
What the Proposed Project Could Support
- Expansion of river-side road connectivity
- Greater private-sector participation in infrastructure
- New employment opportunities
- Development of economic activities along the corridor
- Expansion of Bihar’s urban and infrastructure network
Announcement Comes at Employment Fair
The announcement was made at an employment-focused event organised by the Department of Youth, Employment and Skill Development. Offer letters were distributed to candidates selected by various employers at the event.
The government has therefore linked the proposed infrastructure expansion with its broader focus on employment generation and economic opportunities.
A Major Expansion of Bihar’s Riverfront Infrastructure
If taken forward, the 126-km project would represent a substantial expansion of the riverfront road infrastructure currently concentrated around Patna.
The proposal also marks a shift in scale—from the existing 21-km J.P. Ganga Path to a corridor more than five times its current length, with a proposed investment of ₹70,000 crore. The announcement, however, is currently a plan presented by the state government, with the financing and implementation framework to determine how the project progresses.
Read Also: Bihar’s Muzaffarpur to Get 4.5-km Six-Lane Road Between Chandni Chowk and Ramdayalu Nagar
