In a major development that promises to transform urban mobility and regional connectivity in Bihar’s capital, the Central government has approved the eighth and final phase alignment of the ambitious Patna ring road project, said a senior officer of the road construction department (RCD) on Friday.Patna ring road project gets major boost, as Centre okays its last alignment: RCD ministerThe ring road around Patna is being built on a 150-kilometre-long stretch as an access-controlled corridor, estimated to cost around ₹16,000 crore. “The works on the project was started about two decades ago and is now on track for completion, potentially reshaping Patna on the lines of Delhi-NCR,” RCD minister Kumar Shailendra told HT.The project, first conceptualized around 2005, aims to create a seamless road connectivity around the capital city, diverting heavy traffic, reducing chronic congestion in the core areas and improving linkages with neighbouring districts including Saran and Vaishali. “Once fully operational, it is expected to ease daily commutes, boost economic activity and support planned urban expansion,” said the minister, adding that the Centre’s nod to alignment would ensure handsome flow of fund from the Central government.Officials said that the ring road, being constructed in eight phases, would transform traffic flow in the upcoming satellite towns of Patna and Saran as well. The ring road will connect critical points such as Kanhauli, Sherpur, Sarai, Kacchi Dargah, Bidupur, Chak Sikandar, Dighwara and Didarganj. It will feature six-lane stretches in many sections, flyovers, underpasses and major bridges, including crossings over the Ganga and its tributaries.Decoding the move, another RCD officer said that the Central government would share the cost of land acquisition in equal proportion and may also offer monetary support in the civil work. Some segments, like parts of the Kanhauli-Ramnagar stretch, have already seen completion or significant progress, while work on others, such as Sherpur to Dighwara, is advancing.The final phase approval clears a long-standing bottleneck, giving fresh momentum to the entire network. Officials indicate that the road will integrate with multiple national highways, effectively linking up to a dozen major routes and facilitating smoother movement of goods and passengers between north and south Bihar.The vision for a ring road around Patna dates back more than 20 years. Successive governments have pushed the project under various national schemes, including components aligned with Bharatmala Pariyojana. Delays in land acquisition, arrangement for funding and coordination with multiple agencies had its impact on the project timeline. Land acquisition in several villages has been a sensitive aspect, with compensation and rehabilitation efforts ongoing.“Recent steps, including the clearance for the last leg (from Dighwara to Sarai), signal that the long wait may finally be ending. The project is being executed in phases, with significant portions now either complete, under construction or ready for tendering,” said Shailendra.The proposed ring road is being hailed as a game-changer for traffic flow of the capital city. “Upon its completion, the project would significantly cut travel time between various parts of the expanding capital and satellite areas. It would reduce pressure on internal city roads by rerouting trucks and long-distance traffic and spur development in previously underserved zones along the alignment, potentially attracting investment in logistics, industry and real estate,” said Akhilesh Kumar, a native and businessman of Khajpura.As Patna continues its journey toward becoming a modern regional hub, the ring road stands as a symbol of long-term infrastructure vision finally moving toward reality. For millions who navigate the capital’s notorious traffic daily, this could mark the beginning of a smoother, more efficient era.