Patna: Patna is set to become home to India’s first tunnel connecting two museums, as a specially designed tunnel boring machine (TBM) arrived in the city from Singapore this week. The machine, built by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for underground excavation, will be used to construct a 1.5-kilometre tunnel linking the Bihar Museum and the Patna Museum.
Assembly of the TBM is scheduled to begin this week at the Bihar Museum and is expected to take around two months. Once complete, construction of the tunnel is slated to start in March, with the project targeted for completion by 2027.
The underground route, planned 15 to 20 metres below ground, will pass through several prominent city landmarks including Vidyapati Marg, Taramandal Crossing, the Income Tax Roundabout, and Patna Women’s College. At Nehru Path, where the museum tunnel will intersect with the metro tunnel, there will be a vertical distance of approximately 6.5 metres between the two. While the metro tunnel utilises a six-metre-diameter TBM, the museum tunnel will employ an eight-metre-diameter machine. Base slabs and launch shafts have already been prepared to facilitate excavation.
Designed as more than a transport link, the “Heritage Tunnel” will double as a cultural corridor. Its walls will display Madhubani paintings and other artworks, creating an immersive experience celebrating Bihar’s art, heritage, and culture. Entry and exit buildings will feature a ground and first floor, along with three basement levels.
Officials say the tunnel will significantly improve connectivity between the two museums and is expected to boost tourist footfall in Patna, creating a world-class cultural attraction in the city.
