Cabinet clears metro rail project for Patna

To give a boost to public transport infrastructure in Patna, the Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared a metro rail project for the city to be built at an estimated cost of Rs 13,365.77 crore.

The project envisages two metro rail corridors -- Danapur to Mithapur, and the Patna Railway Station to New Inter-state Bus Terminus (ISBT).

The project would be completed in five years.

As per the project plan, the Danapur Cantt to Mithapur corridor will pass through the heart of city and connect densely-populated areas like the Raza Bazar, Secretariat, High Court and Law University Railway Station, an official statement said.

The Patna Junction to ISBT corridor will connect Gandhi Maidan, PMCH, Patna University, Rajendra Nagar, Mahatma Gandhi Setu, Transport Nagar and ISBT.

"The metro will provide eco-friendly and sustainable public transport to residents, commuters, industrial workers, visitors and travelers," the statement said.

It said that the length of Danapur to Mithapur corridor is 16.94 km and comprises of 11 stations. The length of Patna Station to New ISBT corridor is 14.45 km comprising of 12 stations.

"The existing population of 26.23 lakh of Patna agglomeration area is expected to be benefitted by Patna Metro Rail Project directly and indirectly," the government said.

It added that the corridors would have multimodal integration with railway stations and ISBT station and also have a feeder network of bus, Intermediate Public Transport (IPT) and Non Motorised Transport (NMT).

--IANS

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