Nitish Kumar Urges Quick Completion of Patna-Gaya-Dobhi Highway

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar recently inspected the construction of the Patna-Gaya-Dobhi four-lane highway, urging officials to expedite the project’s completion. Once finished, the highway is expected to drastically reduce the travel time between Patna and Gaya, allowing commuters to cover the distance in just two hours.

During his inspection, Kumar stopped at the Basuhar bridge in Punpun on his way to Jehanabad to review the progress of several infrastructure projects. He was accompanied by key officials, including Ashok Chaudhary, the Minister-in-Charge, Pratyaya Amrit, the Principal Secretary of Road Construction, and Deepak Kumar, the Chief Minister’s Principal Secretary.

CM’s Directives for Timely Completion

Ghulam Qadir, Project Director of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), outlined the Chief Minister’s directives during the inspection. “The Chief Minister has instructed us to open one lane of the railway overbridge by September 30, while the entire project will be fully operational by the end of December,” Qadir stated.

The Patna-Gaya-Dobhi four-lane highway is expected to significantly boost regional connectivity, enhancing travel efficiency between Patna and Gaya, which will benefit both daily commuters and pilgrims visiting Gaya, a major religious destination.

Delays and Rising Costs

The Patna-Gaya-Dobhi highway project, initiated in 2010, has experienced numerous delays, pushing back its expected completion date. Initially estimated to cost over ₹1,600 crore, the project’s expenses have escalated to more than ₹5,000 crore due to factors like construction agencies abandoning the project midway and challenges in land acquisition.

Despite these challenges, more than 90 per cent of the highway construction is now complete, with the remaining work expected to be finalised by December. The project gained momentum after the Patna High Court began closely monitoring its progress, ensuring that the work moved forward steadily.

Regional Impact and Benefits

The four-lane highway, which connects Patna to the Grand Trunk (GT) Road near Dobhi, spans approximately 39 km in Patna district, 44 km in Jehanabad district, and 44.22 km in Gaya district. Upon completion, the highway will provide much-needed relief from traffic congestion, particularly around the Patna bypass.

The improved road infrastructure will significantly benefit pilgrims travelling to Gaya, which is a key religious hub, especially for Buddhists and Hindus. Additionally, it is expected to bolster economic development and facilitate smoother transportation of goods and services between Patna and southern Bihar.

The project marks a major step forward in Bihar’s infrastructure development and is poised to have a lasting impact on the region’s connectivity and growth.