Patna Metro Expansion Gains Pace; New Sections, Interchange Hub, and Safety Checks Scheduled
Patna: Construction and expansion of the metro rail network in Patna are progressing rapidly, with multiple corridors, stations, tunnels, and safety inspections underway as authorities target phased operational rollouts over the coming months. Officials said the project will eventually span 32 km with 25 stations across two main lines.
The network includes the Blue Line from Patliputra Bus Terminal to Patna Junction and the Red Line from Danapur Cantonment to Khemnichak. At present, metro services operate on a 2.9-km stretch between New ISBT, Zero Mile, and Bhootnath stations with a fare of Rs 15. Authorities plan to start operations between Bhootnath and Malahi Pakri in March, extending service by 6.107 km. Fares for journeys beyond 3 km will be Rs 30.
Final safety inspection for the Malahi Pakri–Khemnichak section is scheduled in the last week of February by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety. Officials said the inspection team is expected between Feb 25 and 28 and will review tracks, signalling systems, platform safety, passenger facilities, and technical infrastructure. If cleared, services on this stretch could begin in early March, potentially extending operations to five stations after Holi.
Infrastructure readiness is advancing alongside inspections. An ASS transformer has been commissioned at Malahi Pakri station to regulate high-voltage power supply. Construction of Khemnichak station is about 90 percent complete, while civil works at Malahi Pakri are finished. Parking facilities are also planned at Malahi Pakri after encroachments were cleared from nearby land.
A major interchange station is being built near Patna Junction, designed as the largest hub in the network. The three-level station will connect both corridors and provide direct access to all routes. The first floor will house ticketing and security checks, while the second and third floors will have separate platforms. Escalators and lifts will connect all levels. Tunnels linking different directions are under construction, with one nearing completion and two more about to begin excavation.
The station is being designed for seamless integration between rail and metro systems so passengers can transfer directly after disembarking from trains. A new underground subway is also planned near Mahavir Mandir to link the interchange station with surrounding areas, allowing commuters to reach the metro without crossing traffic. Tunnel boring work for this passage is expected to start in May.
Authorities plan to extend metro services up to Mithapur by August using a rented three-coach train set. The rake, like the current one in operation, is being sourced from Pune. Once operational, the line length in service will reach 9.32 km.
Underground corridor construction is progressing on several stretches. Soil testing is underway along Nehru Path at around a dozen locations up to depths of 50 metres to determine safe tunnelling routes. Surveys of major buildings along a 10.5-km alignment are also in progress to ensure structural safety before excavation begins in April. Structures being assessed include Patna High Court, Bihar Museum, and Patna University.
Tunnel construction has already been completed on several sections, including about 1.48 km between Moinul Haq Stadium and Patna University, and roughly 1.45 km between Gandhi Maidan and Akashvani via Patna Junction. Work continues on other segments, though tunnelling near Rajendra Nagar has stalled due to pending railway clearance.
Officials said additional machines, engineers, and labourers have been deployed on the Danapur–Saguna corridor to meet deadlines. Elevated pillars are already in place and station structures are taking shape using precast technology to accelerate construction.
Meanwhile, the metro project’s administrative office will soon shift from Boring Road to a newly constructed G+4 building at the ISBT depot complex, where all project staff will be housed to streamline operations and monitoring.
