PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has announced plans to expand the state’s J P Ganga Path (Marine Drive) project into a 126-km corridor along the Ganga, stretching from Koilwar on the Sone River, at an estimated cost of Rs 70,000 crore.
The proposed project is part of the state government’s broader push to accelerate infrastructure development, attract private investment, and generate employment through large-scale projects linked to rivers, industrial corridors, and urban expansion.
Choudhary said the existing 21-km J P Ganga Path stretch was built at a cost of around Rs 6,000 crore. He credited former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar with initiating the project in 2013, which was completed in 2025.
“You can see the Marine Drive here now. Mumbai built its Marine Drive back in 1970. Nitish Kumar initiated this project in 2013, and it was completed by 2025,” Choudhary remarked.
The proposed expansion is expected to be funded through a mix of government and private investment. The state government is likely to contribute Rs 20,000 crore, while private entities are expected to invest around Rs 50,000 crore.
Choudhary said the project would go beyond improving connectivity and would create new opportunities for investment and employment. He said the government decided to extend the corridor along the Ganga after developing the existing stretch with its own resources.
The announcement comes amid political scrutiny over the Bihar government’s investment agreements. RJD leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav recently questioned the financial capacity of Global Renewable Advanced Clean Energy Private Limited, which signed a Rs 22,500-crore MoU for a nuclear energy project.
Tejashwi pointed to the company’s incorporation in February 2026, its authorised capital of Rs 10 lakh and paid-up capital of Rs 1 lakh, and sought details on the progress of earlier MoUs.
The government’s latest infrastructure plans thus place a strong emphasis on turning investment proposals into projects, with large-scale connectivity and river-based development forming a key part of Bihar’s broader economic expansion.
