Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated a 3.45-kilometer elevated section of the Patna Metro on Monday morning, just hours before the Election Commission’s scheduled announcement of Bihar assembly elections at 4 PM.
Nitish Kumar takes to X
आज पटना मेट्रो प्रायोरिटी कॉरिडोर पर मेट्रो रेल सेवाओं के परिचालन का शुभारंभ किया। प्रथम चरण में तीन मेट्रो स्टेशन आई॰एस॰बी॰टी॰, जीरोमाइल और भूतनाथ को जोड़ते हुए कुल 4.3 किमी लंबे रूट पर पटना मेट्रो का परिचालन होगा।
— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) October 6, 2025
राज्य सरकार द्वारा आधुनिक, पर्यावरण के अनुकूल एवं सुगम यातायात… pic.twitter.com/wobx0JUZw0
The priority corridor includes three stations—Patliputra Bus Terminal, Zero Mile, and Bhoothnath—now operational for public use. Metro services will run daily from 8 AM to 10 PM, with trains departing at 20-minute intervals, completing 40 to 42 trips daily.
Each coach accommodates 138 seated passengers and 945 standing passengers. Twelve seats per train are reserved for women and differently-abled passengers, with mobile and laptop charging ports available. The coaches feature Madhubani paintings showcasing Bihar’s cultural heritage.
Fares are set at ₹15 from Patliputra Bus Terminal to Zero Mile and ₹30 to Bhoothnath.
Future Expansion Plans
CM Nitish Kumar laid foundation stones for six underground metro stations, including Patna Junction, connected by a 9.35-kilometer tunnel as part of Corridor 1. The underground section, valued at ₹2,565.80 crore, is targeted for completion within 42 months and will serve the city’s busiest areas.
Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, along with cabinet colleagues and senior bureaucrats, took inaugural rides following the ceremony.
Project Overview
The Patna Metro project, costing ₹13,925.5 crore, is jointly funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the central government, and Bihar state government. The complete system comprises two corridors—Red Line (16.86 km) and Blue Line (14.56 km)—with 24 total stations. Full-scale first-phase operations are expected by 2027.
Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) personnel handle metro security.
Political Context
The timing of the inauguration, hours before the election schedule announcement, has drawn attention as the NDA government showcases infrastructure development ahead of polling. The metro represents a significant infrastructure achievement for Bihar, which has historically lagged in urban transportation facilities.
An official emphasized the underground section’s importance: “This underground section is a vital part of the metro project and will ensure smooth operations through the city’s busiest areas.”
The metro launch adds to recent government initiatives including welfare schemes and project announcements in the pre-election period.
