Patna: Work on a new railway terminal at Hardinge Park in Patna has resumed after a hiatus of nearly six months, with Indian Railways approving a redesigned plan that officials say will transform the city’s transport infrastructure. The terminal is expected to be fully completed by 2029 and is being positioned as a modern alternative to the overcrowded Patna Junction.
Under the revised design, the terminal will be directly connected to the GPO–R Block flyover, allowing passengers to enter the station from the elevated road in a move officials describe as “airport-like” connectivity. A dedicated foot overbridge will link the flyover to the station premises, enabling commuters to bypass surface-level traffic and easing congestion in some of the city’s busiest areas.
Construction has also begun on a 7.5ft-high boundary wall near the GPO roundabout to secure and organise the station area. However, the prolonged pause in work has led to a rise in encroachments around Hardinge Park, with informal settlements emerging along the stretch from the GPO roundabout to R Block. Railway authorities have sought assistance from the district administration, the Railway Protection Force and the Government Railway Police to clear the area, saying that the removal of encroachments is critical to keeping the project on schedule.
To ensure an uninterrupted power supply, a separate 33kV electricity line will be laid exclusively for the terminal and the trains operating from it. The plan includes a 2.5km underground cable designed to prevent power load issues from Patna Junction, nearby railway colonies and offices, which officials say could otherwise disrupt operations.
The terminal will be built in two phases. The first phase, estimated to cost around Rs 150 crore, will include five new platforms primarily intended for local train services and is scheduled for completion by June 2027. The second phase is expected to be finished within the following 18 months, with the entire project slated for completion within three years.
Railway officials say the Hardinge Park terminal will offer modern passenger amenities and seamless connectivity by metro and road. The project is being developed under the Amrit Bharat Yojana and is seen as a key step towards easing pressure on Patna Junction, where expansion has been constrained by a lack of space.
