Metro in Bihar capital city: Work on 14-km-long route to begin soon

PATNA: Metro work is likely to begin soon on twin tunnels, an underground ramp and six underground stations on a 14.05-km stretch from Akashvani to Rajendra Nagar in Patna.

L&T Construction is likely to get the work order for the stretch as it emerged as the lowest bidder in the process conducted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the technical consultant for Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC). “DMRC is yet to communicate the tender-related details to us,” said a senior PMRC officer.

“The Akashvani to Rajendra Nagar part of the network involves design and construction of twin tunnels, an underground ramp at Rajendra Nagar and six underground metro stations, including Rajendra Nagar, Moin Ul Haq Stadium, University, PMCH, Gandhi Maidan and Akashvani,” said the officer. The project will cost around ₹1,989 crore, slightly above the estimated construction cost, he added. The groundwork on two other stretches of Patna metro rail, Saguna More to Danapur Nahar underground tunnel underneath Bailey road is also likely to start soon. The Nagarjuna Construction Company has started construction on 6.107km section from Malahi Pakri to New ISBT via Khemni Chak Bhoothnath and Zero.

The Quality Buildcon Private

Limited, which was assigned construction of metro rail depot at New ISBT, has also launched groundwork as part of phase-I of the Patna Metro Rail project. The project is likely to cost around ₹143.43 crore. PMRC officials said work was being allotted to different firms to avoid delay. The Union cabinet approved the project in two sections-Danapur to Mithapur and Patna Railway Station to New ISBT-at an estimated cost of ₹13365.77 crore.