Work on second phase of Ganga Path to begin soon: Nand Kishore Yadav

PATNA: Road construction minister Nand Kishore Yadav on Sunday said technical constraints in the second phase of Ganga Path project, commonly known as Ganga driveway project, in Patna has been resolved. The project is to cost Rs 736 crore and may be completed within 2.5 years.
Yadav said work approval letters had given to the selected companies. “The construction of 7-km-long Ganga Path between Nauzer Ghat and Didarganj has been awarded to GR Infra Projects limited. The project is to cost around Rs605.07 crore,” he said and added: “Gawar Construction Limited has been awarded construction work to link Ashok Rajpath (near PMCH) to the Ganga Path. It will cost Rs131 crore. The work will be completed within 500 days.”
The second phase envisages construction of an expressway on the Ganga bank from Nauzer Ghat to Didarganj near Patna-Bakhtiyarpur NH-30.
The minister said the project would ease heavy traffic congestion on Ashok Rajpath and boost the economic activities in the area. “It will also ensure direct connectivity to Kangan Ghat, Krishna Ghat, Gai Ghat, LCT Ghat and AN Sinha Institute of Social Studies,” he said.
The 20.5-km-long four-lane highway work from Digha to Didarganj was initiated in 2013. But it was delayed mainly due to land acquisition hurdles, slow work and some technical issues.
Around 35% work has been completed on the 13-km-long pathway between Digha and Nauzer Ghat in the first phase.
Yadav said action would be initiated against the company which had been awarded work between Digha and Nauzer Ghat. “The work is going on at a snail’s pace. That’s why we divided the project into two phases and awarded tenders for the second phase to other companies,” he said.