The road construction department has formulated three proposals to build a ring road around the city where heavy vehicles can be diverted, reducing the load on city traffic.
The proposals would be sent to chief minister Nitish Kumar on Thursday. Based on his approval, the department would fine-tune the proposals.
This would be the first meeting vis-a-vis ring road at the chief minister's level. Department officials would make a PowerPoint presentation before the chief minister.
Commuters coming from western side (Ara) have to take Bailey Road and some roads in the city to head north, south oreast. Those coming from the north (Chhapra) have to enter the city to head west. Commuters coming from the east (Bakhtiyarpur) can move northward without entering the city, using New Pass, but to go west people have to enter it.
"Tomorrow, the chief minister will go through the three proposals and see our PowerPoint presentation," an executive rank engineer of the department said. "The ring road would be built by National Highways Authority of India; the department would provide local support. Alignment of the ring was discussed at a meeting between NH and department officials on October 18."
The engineer said that once the chief minister and road construction minister clear the proposals (alignment), it would be sent to the Centre.
The engineer did not share details of the proposal, saying it would be made public once Nitish gives his consent.
The alignments have been made on the basis of many projects, proposed or underway, and entails constructing connecting roads to link these upcoming or proposed roads. Some upcoming projects that would be part of the ring road include Ara-Chhapra bridge, Kachchi Dargah to Bidupur bridge, Patna-Buxar four-lane road, Bakhtiyarpur-Tajpur Bridge, Digha-Sonepur rail-cum-road bridge, AIIMS-Digha semi-elevated/elevated road and few more.
The ring road will take shape after state highways and major district roads are connected with national highways. However, the plan is in initial stages as no concrete decision has been taken except the plan of ring road project with the help of the Centre.
"I have convened a meeting to discuss possibility of a ring road and its alignment," road construction minister Tejashwi Yadav said. "Load on city traffic can be reduced greatly, as this way heavy vehicles will not enter the city. To decongest Bailey Road, Fraser Road, Exhibition, Ashok Rajpath, Station Road, New Pass and Old By Pass, it is important to create a ring road through which commuters can go from one end to another by avoiding city roads."
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Tejashwi said he had already spoken to Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari who had visited Bihar recently in Chhapra and urged him to take up the ring road project.
"Gadkari ji has asked us to send the alignment as soon as possible and we are already working on it. Let's see what comes out of Thursday's meeting when the chief minister will give his suggestions and opinions on the ring road project," said Tejashwi.
