Patna Metro Launch 2025: Hours before the Bihar Assembly election was announced Monday, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the first operational stretch of the long-awaited Patna Metro. The initial 4.3-km priority corridor between Bhutnath Road and New ISBT includes three stations - ISBT, Zero Mile, and Bhutnath Road - and will be operational for the public from October 7. The Patna Metro will operate from 8 am to 10 pm daily, with trains running at 20-minute intervals. In its initial phase, trains will run at a maximum speed of 40 kmph. The service will make between 40 to 42 trips/day, according to officials from the Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL). The fare for the metro has been set at Rs 15 for the ISBT to Zero Mile section and Rs 30 from New ISBT to Bhutnath Road, making Rs 15 the minimum and Rs 30 the maximum fare during this phase. The newly-launched metro coaches have been specially decorated with traditional Madhubani paintings, highlighting Bihar’s cultural heritage. Stickers depicting iconic landmarks such as Golghar, Mahavir Mandir, Bodhi Tree, Buddhist Stupa, and Nalanda ruins have also been placed on the windows, doors, and interiors of the trains. Officials said that each coach accommodates up to 945 standing passengers and includes 138 seats. Twelve seats per train are reserved for women and persons with disabilities. Charging points for mobile phones and laptops have been installed in each coach as part of passenger convenience features. In terms of safety, every coach is equipped with 360-degree CCTV cameras, emergency buttons, and microphones to allow passengers to communicate directly with the train operator in case of emergencies. The footage will be relayed to a central control room in real time, an official informed, adding that red panic buttons are installed near each door, and real-time information displays and audio announcements will guide passengers throughout the journey. The inaugural Patna Metro train, flagged off Monday, comprised new coaches manufactured by Alstom in Vadodara, Gujarat. The first Alstom-manufactured metro rake arrived in Patna in mid-July this year to commence trial runs. To fast-track the start of services and facilitate early testing while awaiting full fleet delivery, Patna Metro also leased a three-coach train set from Pune Metro for three years, with the Bihar government approving the Rs 21.15 crore lease on July 15. These Pune coaches are intended to supplement early operations and will be returned upon conclusion of the lease period. Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) personnel will be deployed across all metro premises for security. “BSAP will be stationed at all critical points - entry gates, platforms, and inside trains - to ensure commuter safety,” an official confirmed. Apart from the operational launch, Chief Minister Kumar also laid the foundation stone for the construction of a 9.35 km underground metro corridor, part of Corridor-1. The projected cost for this underground section amounts to ₹2,565.8 crore, which will stretch across six subterranean stations, extending from Patna Junction to Rukanpura and Mithapur. “The underground section will enhance connectivity across key urban zones and is critical to ensuring smooth metro operations in congested areas,” said an official, adding that the construction is planned in two phases which is aimed to complete it in 42 months. The Phase 1 includes Rukanpura, Raja Bazar, and Patna Zoo stations, with construction that also covers the Rukanpura ramp after Patliputra elevated station, and is estimated to cost Rs 1,147.5 crore. Phase 2, with estimated cost of Rs 1,148.3 crore, includes Vikas Bhawan, Vidyut Bhawan, and Patna Junction stations, along with the construction of a tunnel segment from Vikas Bhawan to Mithapur. Overall, the Patna Metro project is expected to cost Rs 13,925.5 crore, with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Government of India, and the Government of Bihar. The Patna Metro comprises two corridors - the 16.86 km Red Line and the 14.56 km Blue Line - with a total of 24 stations planned. Officials said that full-scale operations across all phases are projected to begin by 2027.
