Days after Nitish inaugurated it, Patna’s JP Ganga Path under scrutiny for construction quality

Bihar Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin and the Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) clarified that the reported issues are “not structural cracks but gaps in expansion joints”.

“There are no cracks in the bridge. Our team, including BSRDCL’s CGM, checked the site yesterday (Sunday)… It’s an expansion joint, not a crack… There’s no technical issue. I’ve instructed the CGM to submit a detailed report by tomorrow (Tuesday) evening, and I will personally inspect the bridge tomorrow,” the minister said.

BSRDCL managing director Shirsat Kapil Ashok said that a “10 mm gap” was designed between the abutment’s dirt wall and the main bridge, towards the Didarganj approach road, intended for expansion and contraction purposes.

“This gap is typically sealed with filler, which was dislodged. It has now been refilled. There is no danger to the bridge,” he said.

“We are undertaking corrective measures. Our chief engineer-cum-CGM is also conducting an internal inquiry. Additionally, a third-party safety audit, mandated by the Bihar government’s Road Construction Department, will be done,” the IAS officer said, adding that a bridge maintenance policy is also being finalised.

The JP Ganga Path, a 20.5-km expressway along the Ganga’s southern bank, links Digha in the west to Didarganj in the east of Patna. Named after Loknayak Jayaprakash Narayan, the project’s foundation stone was laid on his birth anniversary on October 11 in 2013.

The Ganga Path is being constructed with an estimated cost of Rs 3,831 crore, in four phases, with the first stretch opening in June 2022. The latest section between Kangan Ghat to Didarganj was inaugurated last week by the Bihar CM with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Chaudhary and Vijay Sinha, among others, in attendance.

The elevated road runs parallel to the banks of the Ganga and is locally called Marine Drive of Bihar. Developed to decongest Patna’s traffic, it also works as a link between JP Setu and Mahatma Gandhi Setu. The expressway will be integrated with future projects, including the Kachidarghah-Bidupur Six-Lane Bridge and Purvanchal Expressway.