Patna (Bihar) [India], August 23 : Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Sunday announced a plan to develop a 126-kilometre Marine Drive along the Ganga, with an estimated investment of Rs 70,000 crore, as the state looks to expand infrastructure and create new employment opportunities.
Addressing the concluding ceremony of the Employment Fair (Rojgar Mela) at Gyan Bhavan near Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Choudhary said the project would involve Rs 20,000 crore from the state government and Rs 50,000 crore from private entities.
The event was organised by the Department of Youth, Employment and Skill Development and included the distribution of offer letters to candidates selected by various employers.
Choudhary said the existing Marine Drive in Patna, which stretches for around 21 kilometres, was initiated by former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in 2013 and completed in 2025 at a cost of around Rs 6,000 crore.
"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," he said.
The Chief Minister said the earlier project was executed using the state's own resources and that the government had now decided to expand it further.
"This time, we are starting from Koilwar on the Son River and extending the project along the entire stretch of Ganga. We have approved the construction of a Marine Drive spanning approximately 126 kilometres, involving an investment of around ₹70,000 crore," Choudhary said.
He said the Bihar government would contribute Rs 20,000 crore to the project, while private entities would invest Rs 50,000 crore and generate employment opportunities.
"At the same time, we need to open up new avenues. Therefore, we have decided to establish facilities across various sectors--whether related to employment or infrastructure," the Chief Minister said.
Earlier today, Samrat Choudhary participated in an event organised in Bhagalpur through video conferencing and reviewed arrangements related to the Shravani Mela.
Choudhary said the Shravani Mela involves a journey of approximately 100 kilometres spanning Bhagalpur, Munger and Banka, with people across the region connected to the event.
The Chief Minister commended the residents of Bhagalpur, Banka and Munger for their continued support and for warmly welcoming pilgrims and extending a gracious reception to them.