
Patna: Patna is getting ready for the launch of its first metro line, and if all goes well, it could be ready by August 15. The metro will run between Patliputra Bus Terminal and Malahi Pakadi, covering a distance of about 6.1 kilometres. At present, it takes up to two hours to cover this stretch due to heavy traffic. But with the metro, the same journey will take just 14 minutes.
The Urban Development and Housing Minister, Jivesh Kumar, has ordered officials to speed up the work. He reviewed the progress at different metro stations and asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to focus on quality and safety. He also said it was important to meet the launch deadline and ensure passengers do not face any problems.
Five stations are being built on this line—ISBT, Zero Mile, Bhootnath, Khemnichak, and Malahi Pakadi. However, in the beginning, the metro will stop only at four stations. It will skip Khemnichak due to technical reasons for now. Work on the Malahi Pakadi station is almost finished. Technical setup and safety checks are currently underway.
Construction is happening at a fast pace. Workers are busy with tasks like installing electric lines, building platforms, and fitting steel structures. The project is expected to give a major boost to public transport in Patna and help reduce the traffic problems people face every day.