Patna: Construction of the Patna Metro’s underground stretch between Patna Junction and Rukanpura will begin in April, officials said, after the completion of extensive safety and structural checks along the corridor.
Ahead of tunnelling, authorities will inspect the structural integrity of large buildings along the 10.5 km route. A ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey will be carried out by a selected agency to assess subsoil conditions and identify potential risks. Similar inspections will later be conducted along the section extending towards Patliputra railway station.
Patna Metro officials said soil testing has already been completed at 12 locations, roughly one every kilometre. Building inspections and reports are expected to be finalised by March. “Based on the findings, steps will be taken to secure dilapidated structures, and utility shifting will be carried out before tunnelling begins,” an official said.
Project scale and progress
The foundation stone for the construction was laid by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on October 6. Once work begins between Patna Junction and Rukanpura, construction will be underway across all sections of the metro project.
The Patna Metro spans 31.9 km and is estimated to cost Rs 13,365 crore. The state cabinet recently approved an additional Rs 389.77 crore for the project.
On Corridor Two, tunnel boring machines have already reached Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) from Patna University and will next advance towards Gandhi Maidan. This tunnel section measures 2,302 metres. A second machine is simultaneously progressing from Gandhi Maidan towards Akashvani (All India Radio) and onward to Patna Junction.
Officials said tunnel construction on Corridor Two is now pending only between Rajendra Nagar and Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, where work is expected to start soon. The 1.5 km stretch between Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Patna University was the first tunnel section to be completed.
On Corridor One, construction of the elevated metro line between Danapur and Patliputra railway station is progressing rapidly, as is work on elevated tracks and stations between Khemnichak and Mithapur.
Buildings to be inspected and current operations
Structures slated for inspection include Loknayak Bhawan at Dak Bungalow Chowk, Hari Niwas, Kotwali police station, Taramandal, Vidyut Bhawan, Patna High Court, Bihar Museum, Patna Women’s College, Vikas Bhawan, Vishweshwaraiya Bhawan at the Secretariat, Technology Bhawan, and buildings along both sides of Bailey Road.
At present, metro services operate on a 4.5 km stretch between Bhutnath on the bypass and the Patliputra Bus Terminal, with three stations: Bhutnath, Zero Mile and Patliputra Bus Terminal. While around 10,000 passengers initially used the service after its inauguration on October 6, daily ridership has since dropped to between 900 and 1,000.
Officials said ridership is expected to rise in the new year, when services are extended to two additional stations — Khemnichak and Malahi Pakri — which are currently being connected to the Bhutnath station.
