Patna To Get Heritage Tunnel Connecting Two Major Museums
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has launched construction work on an ambitious underground tunnel that will connect the Bihar Museum with the historic Patna Museum, a project aimed at improving visitor access and strengthening cultural tourism in the state.
The project, estimated to cost ₹542 crore, will create a dedicated underground passage allowing visitors to move seamlessly between the two major cultural institutions in Patna. Officials said the initiative is designed to provide a unified museum experience, enabling tourists to explore collections in both museums through a single route. The proposed tunnel will stretch roughly 1.4 to 1.5 kilometres and is expected to become one of the country’s unique heritage corridors connecting two museums. The Bihar government had earlier approved the project in 2023 and appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as consultant for the design and execution of the underground passage.
During the launch event near Hartali Mor on Nehru Path in Patna, the chief minister formally initiated construction by activating machinery for the tunnelling work. He said the tunnel would make it easier for visitors to travel between the two museums and help showcase Bihar’s rich historical heritage in a more integrated way. The Bihar Museum, located on Bailey Road in Patna, is a modern cultural complex spread across more than 13 acres and houses thousands of artefacts that trace the region’s history from ancient civilisations to the modern era. The older Patna Museum, meanwhile, is one of the state’s most prominent heritage institutions, famous for housing important artefacts such as the Didarganj Yakshi sculpture and relics from Bihar’s ancient past.
Officials believe that linking the two museums through an underground corridor will significantly enhance the visitor experience. Instead of travelling through busy city roads, tourists will be able to walk through a climate-controlled passage and explore both museums in a single itinerary. The project is also expected to support the redevelopment and modernisation of the historic Patna Museum complex, which has been undergoing expansion and gallery upgrades in recent years. Authorities say the integrated museum circuit could increase tourist footfall and position Patna as a major cultural destination in eastern India.
Urban planners note that the tunnel reflects a broader trend in India where cities are investing in cultural infrastructure to attract tourism and preserve heritage. By creating a direct link between two major museums, the Bihar government hopes to present the state’s archaeological, artistic and historical legacy in a more cohesive way. Once completed, the heritage tunnel is expected to become both a functional transit corridor and an attraction in itself, potentially drawing visitors interested in architecture, underground infrastructure and museum tourism.
