Chief Minister Nitish Kumar officially launched a section of the Patna Metro today, an event that unfolded mere hours before the state’s assembly election schedule was made public.
The newly inaugurated ‘priority corridor’ spans 3.45 kilometers and features three elevated stations: Patliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile, and Bhoothnath. Adding to this milestone, Mr. Kumar also laid the groundwork for six upcoming underground metro stations, including one at the bustling Patna Junction, which will be connected by a 9.35-km tunnel, part of Corridor 1.
Following the inauguration, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Singh, joined by other government officials and senior bureaucrats, enjoyed a maiden ride on the new metro line.
The timing of this inauguration is particularly notable as the Election Commission of India is set to release the complete schedule for the state’s assembly polls later this afternoon.
According to an official statement, the metro service will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with trains running at 20-minute intervals. Each day, the metro is expected to complete between 40 and 42 trips. Every coach is designed with 138 seats and capacity for 945 standing passengers. Thoughtful amenities include 12 reserved seats for women and differently-abled individuals, as well as mobile and laptop charging ports. Furthermore, the metro coaches are beautifully adorned with traditional Madhubani paintings, celebrating Bihar’s rich artistic heritage.
Fares are set at ₹15 from Patliputra Bus Terminal to Zero Mile, and ₹30 for travel to Bhoothnath, an official confirmed. The construction of the underground tunnel and its six stations, for which the Chief Minister laid foundation stones, will be built at ₹2,565.80 crore.
This crucial underground segment is designed to facilitate seamless operations through Patna’s busiest districts and is projected to be completed within 42 months. The entire Patna Metro project, a joint venture between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Central Government, and the State Government, carries a total cost of ₹13,925.5 crore.
The Patna Metro network will encompass two main lines: the Red Line, stretching 16.86 km, and the Blue Line, extending 14.56 km, together serving a total of 24 stations. The first phase of operations is anticipated to be fully functional by 2027. Ensuring passenger safety and system integrity, security for the Patna Metro will be provided by personnel from the Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP).