Patna, The Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) has taken a decisive step towards implementing one of the state’s most ambitious infrastructure projects: a 75.8 km four-lane marine drive along the southern bank of the Ganges between Bhagalpur and Munger districts.
On Tuesday, BSRDCL officials formally submitted the Land Acquisition Proposal (LAP) to the Bhagalpur district administration, marking the effective commencement of the statutory land acquisition process. The corporation has indicated that the corresponding proposal for Munger district will be filed within the next seven days, after the earlier delay caused by the non-availability of cadastral maps for an 8 km stretch was resolved.
The ₹8,292.65 crore project, modelled on Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive, is being executed in two phases:
– Phase I: Safiabad to Sultanganj (35 km) – estimated cost ₹4,450.17 crore
– Phase II: Sultanganj to Sabour (40.8 km) – estimated cost ₹3,842.48 crore
Tendering has already been completed and the executing agency selected. Physical construction will commence in parallel across both districts as soon as land is handed over, ensuring that progress in one segment is not held up by delays in another.
Abhishek Kumar, Deputy General Manager, BSRDCL, confirmed: “The requisition for acquisition will be submitted within 15 days in Bhagalpur and within seven days in Munger. Forest clearance applications have already been lodged with the state forest department and uploaded on the Parivesh portal. Environmental clearance documentation is being finalised.”
The acquisition process will follow the standard sequence under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013: revenue survey, plot demarcation, social impact assessment, public objections, compensation determination, and final notification under Section 11.
Once statutory clearances are secured, the project is expected to transform the Ganga riverfront into a modern four-lane corridor with promenade areas, significantly boosting tourism, urban aesthetics, and connectivity in the Bhagalpur-Munger region.
The initiative represents a rare large-scale riverfront development in eastern India and is seen as a flagship infrastructure push by the Bihar government ahead of the 2025 state assembly elections.
