Patna to have 40 km Ganga driveway: from Digha to Fatuha

Patna to have 40 km Ganga driveway: from Digha to Fatuha

Patna/New Delhi: according to the latest reports, the finance ministry and Planning Commission have cleared Patna’s 40 km Ganga driveway project, which will cost 2,400 crore. As part of the first phase, the Ganga driveway will cover a 21 km distance from Digha to Didarganj, and the second phase will take the driveway as far as Fatua, a distance of 18 km from Didarganj. The project was forms an integral part of the vision 2021 document for the state and is expected to get environmental clearances soon. Bihar Road Construction Department Secretary Pratya Amrit told the press ‘We have received positive feedback on the project and 90% of the land is already with the government to ensure fast implementation.’

Interestingly, it seems that the change in the course of the river Ganga at various points has ended up facilitating the project as the government is now free to build on the reclaimed land already in government possession for which revenue records have been verified. According to the law, land emerging as a result of a change in a river’s course belongs to the state. Reportedly, the finance ministry will spend around 600 crore as ‘viability gap funding’ for the project.

A significant part of the driveway, about 7 km in length, will run on an elevated platform. The plan is to beautify the entire stretch with greenery and other civic amenities. The state government has already held pre-bid conferences with investors as the project is to be implemented in public-partnership mode on build-operate-transfer basis. ‘The private sector’s response to the project has been overwhelming. We will invite RFQs by November-end’ according to Amrit.

[Courtesy: Economic Times]
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