Patna: Patna’s first metro system inched closer to launch on Wednesday as an inaugural trial was carried out on an 800-metre track inside its depot. The run, which tested technical and safety parameters, marks a milestone for the long-delayed project.
A team of engineers assessed the train’s speed, braking system, power supply and safety mechanisms during the exercise. Officials said the next stage of testing will cover the stretch between ISBT and Bhootnath station, with trials expected to continue for a week.
The Patna Metro – branded the Red Line – is due to connect the New Pataliputra Bus Terminal to Zero Mile, Bhootnath, Khemnichak and Malahi Pakadi in its first phase. Two corridors are under construction in total: a 17km line from Danapur to Patna Junction and a 14km route from Patna Junction to Bairia bus stand. The second corridor is expected to open first.
There is growing speculation that the prime minister, Narendra Modi, could inaugurate the project on September 15, during a scheduled visit to Bihar to open Purnia airport. The metro was originally planned to launch on August 15, but delays in construction forced the date to be pushed back.
The trains themselves have been given a distinctive design. Carriages have been decorated with Madhubani art, an indigenous painting style of Bihar, in bright orange hues. Interiors feature motifs of the state’s major landmarks, including Golghar, Mahavir Temple, the Mahabodhi tree, Buddha Stupa and the ruins of Nalanda.
Fares are expected to range from Rs 10 to Rs 60, depending on distance travelled. A fare fixation committee headed by Bihar’s chief secretary, Amritlal Meena, is reviewing the final structure.
