Patna: Patna’s long-awaited metro rail service is set to begin operations on August 15, with three-coach trains and fares ranging from Rs 10 to Rs 60. The fare structure will follow an inverted model—charging higher fares for shorter distances and lower for longer commutes—with final rates to be determined by the government based on recommendations from the Fare Fixation Committee.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the first phase of the metro, which will operate between Malahi Pakadi and Patliputra Bus Terminal in the Bihar capital. Each coach will accommodate up to 150 passengers, and provisions have been made to increase the number of coaches to eight as passenger demand grows.
The Patna Metro, being developed at a cost of Rs 19,500 crore, includes two main corridors: East-West (16.94 km) and North-South (14.45 km), covering a total length of 34.39 km. Phase one will see the construction of 26 stations—13 underground and 13 elevated—with track laying at six of these stations nearing completion.
Designed with modern urban commuters in mind, the metro will feature air-conditioned coaches equipped with CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi, and charging ports. Stations will offer a range of passenger amenities, including food courts, retail outlets, parking facilities, and mobile app-based ticketing and route information.
The first metro coach, manufactured in Maharashtra, is expected to arrive in Patna next month, while the second is currently under production in Bengaluru. Chief Secretary Amritlal Meena said the Patna Metro will provide facilities on par with the Delhi Metro, marking a major milestone in Bihar’s public transport infrastructure.
