Govt plans metro connectivity between Patna Junction and airport

Patna: The state govt has initiated plans to establish metro rail connectivity between Patna Junction and Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport to boost infrastructure in the state capital.
The state urban development and housing department (UDHD) has selected Rail India Technical and Economic Service Limited (RITES) as the consulting agency to extend the Patna Metro Rail project.
UDHD Minister Nitin Nabin told TOI on Sunday that the consultancy firm will conduct the survey and prepare a feasibility report for the proposed metro connectivity between Patna Junction and the city airport. "The goal is to connect the airport with the existing 28-km long metro alignment, which comprises Corridor I (Danapur-Khemnichak) and Corridor II (Patna Station-Patliputra Bus Terminal)," he added.
"RITES, a railway PSU, has been tasked with preparing a feasibility report. They will also prepare the tentative detailed project report (DPR) for this significant infrastructure development," Nabin said, adding that the department selected the firm about ten days ago to prepare the plan to connect the airport from Patna Junction via Nehru Path. Patna Junction metro station will be the interchangeable station, providing direct connectivity between both metro lines.
"The consultant will provide a report in about two months, detailing the connectivity plan for Patna Metro to the airport. The report includes feasibility and soil testing, govt building considerations, and avoiding disruption to old structures and water zones, elevated and underground portions, among other technicalities. The fund less than Rs 5 crore has been allocated to prepare the DPR," the minister said.
He added that in the future, there will be metro connectivity between Patna airport and Bihta airport.
The priority corridor is scheduled to be operational by August 15, 2025. It is the 6.49-km long elevated section of Corridor II (Patna Junction-Inter-State Bus Terminal or ISBT), which comprises five stations—Malahi Pakri, Khemnichak (interchangeable), Bhoothnath, Zero Mile, and ISBT.
Nabin said that around 80% of civil work has been completed on the priority corridor while more than 85% of work is done on the Patna metro rail depot, which is being constructed at Ramachak Bairiya near ISBT station. "The depot, which is spread over 76 acres of land, will be ready by March, and the engineers have started laying the tracks on this section. A Bengaluru-based company has been tasked to fabricate the metro train for this route," he said.
Initially, four stations, including Malahi Pakri, Bhoothnath, Zero Mile, and ISBT, will be operational from August, while Khemnichak – which encountered some issues including land availability, drainage line, and traffic rush on the road – will be ready by October, the engineers said.
The metro depot, with a built-up area of 47.4 acres of land, will be laced with state-of-the-art technology. It will have two workshop bays, three inspection bays, a testing track, and eight stabling bays that can accommodate 32 three-coach trains and auto-coach washing.