Patna. The Bihar administration is preparing to commission a seven‑kilometre aerial ropeway that will stretch across the Ganga, connecting the bustling Marine Drive precinct of Patna with the revered Hariharnath Temple at Sonpur. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary disclosed at the Rising Bihar Investor Summit 2026 that site‑preparation could begin in as little as five months.

Public‑Private Partnership fuels the venture

The project is being fashioned under a Public‑Private Partnership (PPP) model. While the overall concept has been approved, key specifics—such as the exact route alignment, station footprints, total investment outlay and engineering details—are still under detailed scrutiny.

Driving tourism and pilgrim traffic

Targeted primarily at devotees heading to the Hariharnath Temple, the ropeway will offer a swift, picturesque alternative to conventional river crossings. The scheme aligns with Bihar’s larger strategy to upgrade tourism infrastructure, making holy sites more reachable for visitors from Patna and beyond.

State officials are also contemplating similar ropeway projects at other pilgrimage hubs, notably a proposed connection between Ajgaivinath Dham in Sultanganj and Aguwani Ganga Ghat in Bhagalpur.

Investor summit highlights development priorities

During the summit, CM Choudhary urged business leaders to explore Bihar’s fertile investment climate, pointing to opportunities in infrastructure, tourism, manufacturing, agriculture and food processing. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari attended the event, reaffirming the central government’s commitment to backing Bihar’s infrastructure agenda.

Flood mitigation remains a parallel focus

In his address, the chief minister also underscored the state’s persistent flood woes, calling for long‑term measures to regulate upstream water inflow, reinforce Ganga embankments, and capture monsoon runoff for use in drought‑prone districts later in the year.

Upcoming milestones for the ropeway

With the Patna‑Sonpur ropeway poised to merge improved river connectivity with tourism growth, the immediate agenda shifts to finalising technical designs, locking in private partners and securing all necessary clearances before ground is broken.