Kanpur riverfront project to follow Patna's Ganga Path model

Kanpur: The development of the Ganga Path and riverfront spanning from Atal Ghat to Shuklaganj Bridge in the city will follow Patna's blueprint. The Bihar Road Development Corporation officials, who successfully implemented the Ganga Path in Patna, will provide guidance for this project. Following Commissioner K. Vijayendra Pandian's directives, city officials conducted a site visit to Patna on Saturday to understand the specifics of the 20-kilometre Ganga Path and gather essential insights.

A proposed riverfront project includes an additional road running parallel to the VIP road along the Ganga. To examine the existing Patna model, coordinator Neeraj Srivastava, accompanied by various department officials visited the Patna Ganga Path. General manager of Bihar Road Development Corporation, Arun Kumar provided detailed information about the construction process, challenges and NGT considerations.

The delegation subsequently met with managing director of Bihar State Road Development Corporation, Kapil Ashok, to discuss the riverbank conditions in both cities. The Kanpur Riverfront project, initially proposed in 2013, involved IIT Kanpur's study and a presentation to the World Bank President . Despite initial approval, the project faced delays following the establishment of the Namami Gange department.

The govt considers the Ganga Riverfront project a priority, taking into account NGT and court guidelines for riverside development. The Patna inspection aimed to address the challenges of traffic congestion on VIP road and space constraints for parallel road construction. The Bihar Road Development Corporation's six-lane Ganga Path, constructed using the bridge method, serves as a potential solution.

Prior to the Patna visit, the team conducted a boat survey of the proposed Kanpur site from Shuklaganj Bridge to Atal Ghat. The officials from various departments will submit their proposal to the Commissioner for governmental consideration.

Neeraj Srivastava, Coordinator, High-Level Joint Development Committee, said, "Officials from the Irrigation, Public Works Department, and Bridge Corporation will soon submit a proposal for Kanpur to the Commissioner, which will be sent to the govt for necessary action."