Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has announced a proposed ropeway across the Ganga in Patna towards Harihar Nath Temple in Sonpur, with work expected to begin within the next five months.
The announcement was made during the Rising Bihar Investor Summit 2026 in Patna on October 1. The summit, organised under the theme “Bihar – The Emerging Investment Destination of India”, brought together policymakers, investors, industry leaders and entrepreneurs to discuss the state’s investment and infrastructure opportunities. The official summit website confirms the event at Hotel Taj City Centre, Patna.
The proposed ropeway could provide another connectivity option between Patna and the Harihar Nath Temple area, particularly for devotees and tourists visiting the religious destination.
Ropeway Planned Across the Ganga
The state government is working on a plan to develop a ropeway across the Ganga with connectivity towards Harihar Nath Temple in Sonpur.
Chief Minister Choudhary said work on the project would begin within five months. The announcement indicates that the project is moving towards the planning and implementation stage.
However, several important details are yet to be finalised or publicly announced. These include the exact alignment, locations of ropeway stations, project cost, construction agency, technical specifications and the detailed construction schedule.
The five-month timeline announced by the Chief Minister refers to the expected start of work. It does not mean that the ropeway will become operational within five months.
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A New Link for Devotees and Tourists
Harihar Nath Temple in Sonpur is an important religious destination in Bihar and attracts devotees throughout the year.
A ropeway connection towards the temple could create an additional travel option for visitors coming from Patna. It could also become part of Bihar’s wider efforts to improve tourism infrastructure and connectivity around major religious and cultural destinations.
Recent tourism plans in the state have also focused on improving facilities and connectivity at religious sites, including the Harihar Nath Temple area. A recent report noted that a Harihar Nath Temple Corridor is being developed in Sonepur, while the government is also considering a proposed ropeway connecting Atal Path in Patna with Harihar Nath Temple.
The final route and technical design, however, will determine how the proposed ropeway connects Patna with the temple area.
Announcement at Rising Bihar Investor Summit
The ropeway plan was announced during the Rising Bihar Investor Summit 2026, held on October 1 at Hotel Taj City Centre, Patna.
The official summit website says the event is designed to showcase Bihar’s investment roadmap, infrastructure opportunities, policies and emerging business sectors. It brings together government representatives, investors, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and industry bodies.
The summit focuses on sectors including infrastructure, energy, agriculture and food processing, technology, IT and IT-enabled services, urban development and tourism.
The proposed Ganga ropeway adds a tourism and connectivity dimension to the infrastructure discussions taking place at the summit.
CM Highlights Bihar’s Flood and Water Challenges
During his address, Choudhary also highlighted Bihar’s recurring flood situation and the state’s broader water-management challenges.
He said Bihar faces floods every year and pointed out that several rivers, including the Ganga, have crossed their previous Highest Flood Level (HFL) this year.
At the same time, the Chief Minister highlighted a contrasting situation in different parts of Bihar. While the state has large quantities of water during the monsoon, several areas of south Bihar face increasing water requirements once the rainy season ends.
This creates a need for systems that can make better use of excess water during floods and help ensure water availability during periods of higher demand.
Gaya, Nawada and Jamui Among Areas in Focus
The Chief Minister referred to areas including Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Sasaram, where water requirements rise during the later months of the year.
He spoke about the need to develop systems that can use water available during the monsoon and help make it available for people and agriculture when demand increases.
Choudhary also referred to an earlier plan to take Ganga water towards Rajgir, Nawada and areas associated with Pind Daan. He indicated that the government is considering how such arrangements could be taken forward based on future requirements.
The discussion places the proposed ropeway within a larger conversation around Bihar’s infrastructure, tourism connectivity and management of the state’s water resources.
Project Details Awaited
The proposed Ganga ropeway is expected to undergo further planning and technical processes before construction begins.
At present, the key details still awaited include:
- Exact ropeway route and alignment
- Locations of stations
- Project cost and funding structure
- Construction and implementing agency
- Technical specifications
Detailed construction and completion schedule
The announced five-month period is therefore best understood as the target for starting work, rather than the completion or commissioning timeline.
If implemented, the project could add a new mode of connectivity between Patna and the Harihar Nath Temple area while supporting Bihar’s broader tourism and infrastructure plans.
For now, the announcement marks the beginning of a proposed project whose route, cost and technical design will become clearer as the government moves through the required administrative and planning stages.
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