Bihar’s capital Patna officially joined India’s growing list of metro cities as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the first phase of the Patna Metro on Monday. The much-awaited launch marks a significant milestone for the city’s transport system and fulfills a decade-old dream project of the CM.
The inaugural run took place at 11 am from the Patliputra Bus Depot, with Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha also in attendance. Public services for commuters will begin from tomorrow.
For now, the metro will operate on a 4.3-kilometre stretch of the Blue Line, connecting Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT), Zero Mile, and Bhoothnath stations. Passengers can travel with a minimum fare of ₹15 for a single station, while the full route will cost ₹30. Services will run daily from 8 am to 10 pm, with 40–42 trips scheduled, and a frequency of every 20 minutes.
Each train, designed with motifs inspired by Bihar’s world-famous Madhubani art, consists of three coaches and can carry up to 900 passengers. This cultural touch is aimed at reflecting the state’s identity while offering modern commuting comfort.
The Patna Metro project, estimated at ₹13,925.5 crore, is being developed in five phases with financial support from the Bihar and central governments along with JICA. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is serving as consultant, while infrastructure major L&T is executing the first corridor.
The foundation stone was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17, 2019, and the Patna Metro Rail Corporation Limited (PMRCL) was established soon after. With this launch, Patna has become the 24th Indian city to get an operational metro system, a move expected to decongest roads and modernize urban travel in the region.
