Patna gets its first double-decker flyover: How this will help ease traffic

The flyover – together with ongoing metro and rail projects in the city — is being seen as a step towards “making Patna’s transport system future-ready”, with officials saying it will function as an alternative route for vehicles entering from Gandhi Setu and Krishna Ghat.

The unveiling comes ahead of the assembly elections in Bihar.

The project was completed on May 31, 2025 and features two tiers with 8.5-metre-wide one-way carriageways. The upper deck, measuring 2,175.50 metres, runs from Kargil Chowk to Science College, while the lower deck, spanning 1,449.30 metres, connects Patna College Main Gate to Gandhi Maidan, allowing vehicles to move in opposite directions on each level.

Officials said that “uniqueness” of the Patna double decker flyover lies in its design of two separate decks with each handling one-way traffic.

This design is expected to streamline traffic flow for commuters, students, and patients around key areas like NIT, PMCH, Science College, and Patna University. The flyover integrates with the city’s emerging metro network and the JP Ganga Path, with ramps linking both decks and a lift pit for the upcoming University metro station already in progress. It further enhances connectivity to Gayghat, Patna City, and Kachchi Dargah, serving as an alternative route for vehicles entering from Gandhi Setu and Krishna Ghat.

Bihar Road Construction Minister Nitin Nabin said: “This will significantly smooth traffic on one of Patna’s busiest stretches, benefiting thousands of daily commuters”.

Officials said plans also include a connection to a proposed multi-level parking facility at the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH).

Another double-decker structure in Bihar announced before the Patna flyover is likely to open soon in Chhapra. It was said to be Bihar’s first such project of its kind, with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laying the foundation stone on July 11, 2018, years before the Patna Ashok Rajpath flyover’s foundation was set in December 2021. However, the Chhapra initiative, initially targeted for completion by June 2022, has lagged behind due to land acquisition hurdles.

In a tweet on X, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said: “With the construction of this state-of-the-art flyover, the traffic problems on Ashok Rajpath will be completely resolved, and Patna’s traffic system will become much smoother. Patients and their families going to Patna Medical College and Hospital will find commuting much more convenient. This flyover will give a new direction to Patna’s urban landscape and connectivity”.