Nitish Kumar inaugurates first phase of Patna Metro; services to begin Oct 7

New Delhi (India) October 6: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar officially opened the first phase of the 3.6-kilometer elevated portion of the Patna Metro rail project's priority route. The public use of the metro will begin on October 7.

First Phase Inauguration

CM Kumar also laid the foundation stone for six underground metro stations. It includes Patna Junction, and a 9.35-kilometer tunnel.

Nitish Kumar said, “Today, the inauguration of metro rail services was conducted on the Patna Metro Priority Corridor. In the first phase, the Patna Metro will operate on a total 4.3 km long route connecting three metro stations: ISBT, Zero Mile, and Bhoodanath” in a post on social media platform X.

The Patna Metro made its first run from Patliputra Bus Depot. Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Sinha and Samrat Choudhary attended the inaugural ceremony.

Train Operations and Timings

This is a major milestone in the city's public transportation system. The first section of the metro will only run for about 3.6 km at this time. There are roughly 138 seats available in a three-coach Patna Metro train. The Patna Metro's opening is expected to change the city's transportation system. It will reduce traffic and improve connectivity throughout the city.

The metro will operate every day. The trains are scheduled every 20 minutes, from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, each train will have 12 seats set aside for women and passengers with disabilities. The set ticket for the Patna Metro is between Rs 15 and Rs 30.

Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) officers will be in charge of Patna Metro security. Personnel from BSAP will be stationed at all points of the metro, from the platforms to the entrance.

Project Cost and Funding

The Patna Metro project is expected to cost Rs 13,925.5 crore in total. The funding is provided by the central government, the Bihar government, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

Safety, Security and Culture

The safety of its passengers are top priorities for the Patna Metro. Every bus has microphones. It will enable direct communication between passengers and the metro driver, emergency buttons, and 360-degree CCTV cameras. Coaches also have front emergency doors, bi-parting sliding doors, and charging ports for laptops and cellphones for added safety.

The coaches are decorated with Madhubani paintings and images of famous sites like the Golghar, Mahavir Mandir, and Buddha. They capture Bihar's cultural legacy.  

Passenger Services and Facilities

Modern amenities have been incorporated into metro station designs to guarantee accessibility and comfort. These consist of digital displays, ticket vending machines, lifts, stairways, escalators, public speaker systems, and platform screen doors for security. The concourse spaces include retail stores, food courts, information kiosks, waiting areas, and facilities for check-in and check-out of baggage.