Patna: The expansion of Patna Metro’s underground network has hit a pause as construction of a key tunnel has been halted pending approval from Indian Railways.
After completing its elevated corridor, Patna Metro had begun preparing its underground stations. However, work on Metro Corridor-2, which requires tunnelling beneath the tracks and terminal at Rajendra Nagar railway station, has been suspended due to the absence of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the railways. Authorities have confirmed that approval is necessary before excavation can continue, as the alignment could affect ongoing developments at the railway terminal.
An approximately 1.8-kilometre tunnel is planned from Moinul Haq Stadium, passing through Rajendra Nagar Terminal and terminating near Malahi Pakri station. Of this, around 800 metres are to run directly beneath Rajendra Nagar Terminal. Two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) had begun work, with one completing 361 metres and the other 263 metres, before operations were halted.
Rajendra Nagar will also become the deepest station on the Patna Metro network, with trains running 21 metres below ground to accommodate the railway tracks overhead. The station will provide direct connectivity to the Rajendra Nagar railway terminal, offering commuters easier access to trains. Meanwhile, the Patna Junction station will serve as an interchange between the Red and Blue lines, facilitating travel across the city from Danapur to Khemnichak and the New ISBT.
