Patna: Patna will launch its water metro service in April, becoming the second city in India after Kochi to introduce an urban water-based public transport system. The project, which will be operated by the state tourism department, aims to ease congestion, promote river transport and boost tourism along the Ganges.
The electrically powered water metro will initially operate on a route from Digha to Kanganghat, with intermediate stops at Gandhi Ghat and Gai Ghat. Tenders have already been issued for the construction of charging stations at Digha, Gandhi Ghat and Kanganghat, officials said.
Fares for the service will range between Rs 50 and Rs 100. Passengers will be able to book tickets through the official Bihar Tourism website, while a dedicated mobile application is also expected to be launched. The water metro will operate daily from 10 am to 8 pm and is likely to be extended to Sonpur in the next phase.
Each ferry will have a capacity of around 100 passengers. The Patna Water Metro project is estimated to cost approximately Rs 908 crore, with the cost of a single boat pegged at about Rs 12 crore. The vessel deployed for the service has been named MV-Gomadharkonwar.
Officials said the project has been designed not only to connect different parts of Patna but also to improve river-based connectivity with neighbouring districts. Plans are in place to link Sonpur and Vaishali through the river network in the future.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with Kochi Metro Rail Limited, which has played a key role in developing India’s first water metro system.
Beyond urban mobility, the initiative is expected to contribute to pollution control by promoting clean, electric transport. It is also seen as a step towards revitalising river transport and tourism in Bihar, where the Ganga River flows through 12 districts, while the Gandak and Burhi Gandak rivers pass through seven and five districts respectively. Officials believe improved river connectivity could offer a sustainable alternative for both passenger travel and the movement of goods across the state.
