Patna Marine Drive is constructed along the Ganga River and is spread across 21 km of area and it connects Didarganj to Digha in Patna. The state of roadways in Bihar has been a cause of concern for the residents for a long time. In an attempt to resolve the issues of connectivity and traffic congestion in the state capital, the Bihar Government came up with the Patna Marine Drive project that would significantly make the state capital better connected to other regions. Currently, two phases of the four-lane highway are operational and one is still under construction.
Patna Marine Drive: Fact file
| Operational since | 24 June 2022 |
| Termination points | Didarganj – Digha |
| Constructed by | Bihar Government, Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) |
| Total distance | 20.5 km |
| Driveway | 14 km + 16 km (on land) |
| Operational phases | Phase 1 – Digha to Patna Medical College and Hospital; Phase 2 – Patna Medical College and Hospital to Gai Ghat |
| Operational distance | 11.5 km |
| Project cost | Rs 3100 crore approx.. |
Route and places covered
Patna Marine Drive aims to decongest the traffic in the city by connecting its East and West ends, from Didarganj to Digha. This will reduce the time taken to travel the entire stretch from two hours to just over 20 minutes. The driveway is built on a dam on the Ganga River at a height of 13.5 m.
This road will cover several important places of the city – Patna Ghat, Kangan Ghat, Gai Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Patna Medical College and Hospital, AN Sinha Institute and LCT Ghat. Currently, only two phases of the project are operational, stretching from Digha to Gai Ghat.
Phase 1
The first phase of the project was opened for public usage on 24 June 2022. This phase covers a distance of 6.5 km and connects the East end of the driveway, Digha, to Patna Medical College and Hospital.
Phase 2
Further, the second phase became operational earlier this year on 14 August 2023. This phase added another 5 km to the distance covered by phase one by extending the route from Patna Medical College and Hospital to Gai Ghat.
Phase 3
The final and longest phase of the project is still under construction. This 9 km-long stretch will connect the phases built previously with the terminating point at Didarganj. This phase is expected to improve connectivity between the Ghats of the city.
Patna Marine Drive: Major junctions
Not only does the Patna Marine Drive promise to ease the traffic congestion of the city by providing a faster and better alternative, it is also well-connected to other parts of the city by its junctions.
The most important junction is the one with Atal Path. This junction is a boon for medical infrastructure and emergency services as it will significantly improve connectivity to Patna Medical College and Hospital and AIIMS, Patna.
Secondly, the corridor will also be connected with the Ashok Rajpath at nine points across the entire stretch. This road is one of the busiest in the city as it is the only one connecting the suburbs to the city centre. With several projects in the vicinity of Ashok Rajpath in the pipeline, it is currently the hub of Patna’s roadway and infrastructural growth.
The third phase of the project also promises smooth connectivity with National Highway 30, that covers a considerable distance stretching from Sitarganj in Uttar Pradesh to Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
Moreover, Patna Marine Drive is also connected to the Digha Rail Bridge, Mahatma Gandhi Setu and the bridge stretching from Kacchi Dargah to Bidurpur.
How is the Patna Marine Drive significant?
The primary aim of this extravagant project is to improve connectivity within the city by reducing the travel time. Not only will it reduce traffic congestion in the alternate routes, the four-lane structure will ease the movement of traffic on the corridor as well. The junctions will also ensure smoother traffic flow.
The development of Patna Marine Drive will also lead to developmental projects along the riverfront. According to current plans, the riverfront along Ganga will span across 20 ghats. This is a promising prospect for the tourism industry. Not only this, there are plans for the landscaping development of other recreational hubs on the Patna Marine Drive as well.
Impact on real estate
With two phases of the Patna Marine Drive already operational, the prospect for real estate growth around the region looks very bright. By improving connectivity between the far ends of the city, the corridor has promised a boost to real estate development in nearby areas.
Moreover, the development of the Ganga Riverfront, cultural centres and recreational hubs pertaining to people of all ages will also have a crucial impact on the real estate growth in Patna. Current statistics claim at least 13% growth every year in the real estate market of the areas connected to Patna Marine Drive.
See also: Stamp duty, registration fee in Patna, Bihar 2023
FAQs
What is the length of Patna Marine Drive?
Patna Marine Drive covers a total distance of 21 kilometres.
What are the terminating points of Patna Marine Drive?
Patna Marine Drive stretches from Digha in the west to Didarganj in the east end of the city.
How long does it take to cover the entire stretch of the Patna Marine Drive?
The corridor aims at reducing the travel time of the stretch it covers too 20 - 25 minutes.
Which places does Patna Marine Drive cover?
Patna Marine Drive covers important localities of the city including Patna Ghat, Kangan Ghat, Gai Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Patna Medical College and Hospital, AN Sinha Institute and LCT Ghat.
What junctions is Patna Marine Drive connected to?
Patna Marine Drive is connected with Atal Path, Ashok Rajpath and NH 30 to facilitate smoother connectivity.
Can I reach Mahatma Gandhi Setu from Patna Marine Drive?
Yes, Mahatma Gandhi Setu is well-connected to Patna Marine drive and lies at a half-an-hour distance from it.
When will Patna Marine Drive be fully operational?
The third phase of the Patna Marine Drive connecting the first two phases to Didarganj is still under construction and is expected to be operational soon.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at [email protected] |
Riddhi Chatterji is currently pursuing a master’s degree in English literature from University of Delhi. Her meticulous attention to detail and the desire to make a learning experience out of every opportunity has allowed her to work with different forms of textual content for digital platforms, ranging from social media to news desks. When not working or studying , you can find her with her head buried in a book, discovering new music and movies, or out and about exploring the city on the metro.
