Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the Priority corridor of the Patna Metro in the third or fourth week of September, with preparations already underway across the capital.
According to officials, the Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) is gearing up for the launch, though a formal consent letter from the Prime Minister’s Office is awaited. Trial runs are expected to start in the first week of September, to be carried out for around 15 days before the inauguration.
Power supply to the metro depot is expected to begin within three days, marking a critical step toward readiness. Once functional, electricity from the power grid will feed into the substation and subsequently enable operations between the New Pataliputra Bus Terminal Station and Malahi Pakadi.
The Priority corridor comprises five stations — New Pataliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile, Bhootnath, Khemnichak, and Malahi Pakadi. Sources suggest that construction on three of these stations will be completed in time for the proposed launch window in September.
At the heart of metro operations will be the RSS control room, or Operation Control Centre, which will oversee train movement, signaling, power supply, and safety systems. Equipped with cameras and sensors, it will provide real-time monitoring to manage disruptions and emergencies.
Metro coaches for the corridor have already been finished. Each three-coach train can accommodate about 900 passengers — a mix of seated and standing — with an emphasis on being cost-efficient and environmentally friendly.
Officials have stressed that the metro will significantly ease congestion in Patna, particularly along one of its busiest stretches, while improving urban connectivity.
