Bihar CM Reviews Munger-Bhagalpur Ganga Path Project, Directs Early Start of Construction

Patna, May 2026: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary reviewed the proposed Munger (Safiyabad)-Bariarpur-Ghorghat-Sultanganj Ganga Path and Sultanganj-Bhagalpur-Sabour Ganga Path projects during a high-level meeting and later inspected the project site for the proposed Marine Drive along the Ganga river. He directed officials to expedite land acquisition and begin construction work at the earliest.

The review meeting was held at Babua Ghat in Munger, where Road Construction Department Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal gave a detailed presentation on the ambitious Ganga Path projects. He briefed the Chief Minister about the alignment, land acquisition status, redevelopment of ghats, proposed new ghats, and other major features of the projects.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the proposed Ganga Path project from Safiyabad (Munger) to Sultanganj (Bhagalpur) will have a total length of 42 kilometres, while the Sultanganj-Bhagalpur-Sabour stretch will cover 41.33 kilometres.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure that the alignment of the project minimizes inconvenience to residents of Munger city. He also directed them to identify suitable land between Munger and Bariarpur for the development of a new township and earmark land for industrial development. He further asked officials to modernize Munger Airport and ensure arrangements for smooth aircraft landing operations, including at night.

Emphasising connectivity and urban safety, the Chief Minister said that the proposed Munger-Bhagalpur Ganga Path should be developed as an at-grade corridor as far as possible so that it can also function as a city protection embankment. He stressed that elevated sections should be kept to a minimum and that the alignment should maximize connectivity with existing roads and bridges.

After the review meeting, the Chief Minister conducted an on-site inspection of the proposed Munger-Bhagalpur Ganga Path (Marine Drive) project and issued several instructions to officials.

According to project details shared during the inspection, the Munger-Sultanganj Ganga Path project involves the construction of a four-lane elevated and at-grade corridor running parallel to the Ganga river from Safiyabad in Munger to Sultanganj in Bhagalpur. The total project length is 42 kilometres, including approximately 30.12 kilometres of at-grade road and 11.88 kilometres of elevated corridor.

The project will be implemented under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) at an estimated contract cost of Rs 5,327 crore. Under this model, the government will contribute 40 percent of the investment while the private developer will invest the remaining 60 percent. The construction period has been fixed at four years.

Officials said the corridor is being developed to provide high-speed and uninterrupted transportation along the Ganga riverfront, significantly improving regional connectivity between Munger and Bhagalpur. The project is also expected to reduce traffic congestion on existing roads while boosting tourism, riverfront development, and access to religious destinations.

The four-lane divided carriageway will have a total width of 27 metres, including two seven-metre-wide main carriageways, a five-metre median, 2.5-metre paved shoulders, and 1.5-metre earthen shoulders. Right of Way for at-grade sections will range from 45 to 100 metres, while elevated sections will require 30 metres. Elevated stretches are proposed mainly in densely populated areas, around ghats, religious places, and crowded zones to minimize land acquisition and maintain traffic convenience.

Similarly, the Sultanganj-Bhagalpur-Sabour Ganga Path project will include a four-lane elevated and at-grade corridor extending parallel to the Ganga river. This project will have 34 ghats along the alignment that will also be developed. Passenger facilities such as toll plazas, bus bays, truck lay-bys, viewpoints, and a 2,000-square-metre rest area near Aguwani Ghat have also been proposed.

The project will require around 699.06 acres of land covering 43 mouzas/wards and 2,106 plots. Officials informed that the land acquisition process is currently underway.

During his visit to Munger, the Chief Minister also visited the Paduka Darshan Ashram परिसर of Bihar Yoga Vidyalaya and met Swami Niranjanananda Saraswati. He offered prayers before the idol of Bhagwan Tirupati Balaji and participated in the aarti, praying for peace, prosperity, and happiness in the state.

Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, legislators, senior administrative officials, police officers, and public representatives were also present during the occasion.