Patna: Patna is set to get a new airport-style passenger railway terminal at Harding Park, a project that officials say could transform the city’s rail infrastructure and significantly reduce congestion at Patna Junction. East Central Railway has initiated the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the terminal, which is estimated to cost around Rs 400 crore.
Construction is likely to begin in April, subject to financial approval from the Railway Board. A funding proposal will be sent in March, and officials said work would proceed swiftly once clearance is granted. The project will be developed in phases, with the first phase already under way and the second phase currently being planned.
The terminal, spread across about 4.8 acres, will feature a grand station building, spacious waiting halls, multi-level parking, foot overbridges and well-organised platforms. Railway authorities say the design aims to provide passengers with an airport-like experience, with smoother movement, better amenities and modern infrastructure.
Once operational, the Harding Park terminal is expected to handle more than 80 passenger trains across five platforms, with an estimated daily footfall of over 60,000 passengers. Officials believe this will significantly ease crowding and traffic pressure at Patna Junction, one of the busiest railway stations in eastern India.
The terminal will also be integrated with a metro station, foot overbridges and a multimodal transport hub to facilitate seamless transfers between trains, metro services, buses and other transport options. According to East Central Railway’s chief public relations officer, Saraswati Chandra, the project is being developed with future urban mobility needs in mind, with a long-term vision extending up to 2029.
