Patna: A major section of the long-delayed Patna Metro has been completed, with authorities confirming that tunnel excavation between Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Gandhi Maidan is now finished.
The development marks a significant milestone for the underground stretch of the city’s priority corridor, which officials say will play a central role in easing congestion across some of Patna’s busiest districts.
Work is also nearing completion on the adjoining section between Gandhi Maidan and Akashvani, where tunnelling is about 90% complete. Engineers expect the remaining excavation to conclude soon, paving the way for track installation and systems work.
Construction activity is now shifting to the next phase, with tunnelling along Nehru Path scheduled to begin in June. Soil testing for the route has already been completed, and preparations are under way to deploy a tunnel boring machine, which officials say will accelerate progress once launched.
The underground network will extend across a dense urban corridor, linking areas such as Patna University, PMCH and Rajendra Nagar, before continuing towards Akashvani and ultimately reaching Patna Junction. Much of this stretch will run beneath existing infrastructure, including railway lines, adding to the project’s engineering complexity.
Authorities say the priority corridor, which runs from Patliputra Bus Terminal to Patna Junction, is targeted for completion by the end of the year. During a recent inspection, Bihar’s chief minister, Samrat Choudhary, called for faster execution of the works.
Along Nehru Path, preparatory activity is already visible. Barricading has been installed near key points including the Income Tax roundabout, Vikas Bhawan and Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park. Plans include a new underground station near Vidhut Bhawan, aimed at improving connectivity to the state secretariat and nearby government offices.
The tunnel on this route will run through Vikas Bhawan, the Patna Zoo, Raja Bazar and Rukanpura before reaching Patliputra. Beyond that, the metro line will transition to an elevated corridor extending via RPS Mor and Saguna Mor to Danapur.
Meanwhile, limited metro operations have already begun in parts of the network, including the Patliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile and Bhutnath stations. Officials are preparing to extend services to Malahi Pakri in the coming weeks as part of the first phase rollout.
Approved in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 13,365 crore, the Patna Metro project comprises a 31.9km network split evenly between underground and elevated sections. Two corridors are planned: Danapur to Mithapur via Patna railway station, and Patna railway station to Bairiya bus stand via Gandhi Maidan and Rajendra Nagar.
With tunnelling advancing and initial services under way, the project is entering a critical phase that could determine whether the long-promised urban transit system meets its latest deadline.
