After JICA, ADB shown interest to fund Patna Metro Rail Project

Patna, India (Urban Transport News): The Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials recently met the officials of Patna Metro Rail Corporation Limited (PMRC) to discuss the progess of ongoing metro rail project in the Patna city. They are now ready to offer financial assistance for the implementation of future expansion of metro corridors and alignments.

“The ADB delegates met the PMRC officials to discuss the ongoing metro rail project work and its progress and offered the state to take loan from them instead of somewhere else. But we have already signed the memorandum of understanding with Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA) and expecting to get the loan soon. The ADB is ready to extend support for the further expansion in metro lines, stations and alignments and they made an offer in the first round meeting with them. If everything goes well, we can plan for the possible expansion of the metro,” said an official.

Sources said that Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), ADB is already working with the state government on different urban development projects. So far, PMRC has acquired about 80% of the land required for the project as most land belonged to the state government while a large piece of land for construction of ISBT Metro Depot will be acquired in the next couple of months. Land measuring 76 acres in Ranipur and Pahadi area will be used for the construction of ISBT metro stations and depot. The Bihar government has already sanctioned Rs1,000 for land acquisition.

"The JICA officials had recently visited the site and met the PMRC officials to discuss the future course of action. The issues related to land acquisition was already solved and we are expecting to get the funds from JICA soon. Even if it gets delayed, we would have other options for loan,” the officials said.

Accoring to officials, work is already in progress on a 6.1 km elevated stretch (known as priority corridor) of Corridor 2 from Malahi Pakri to ISBT, which includes five stations at Malahi Pakri, Khemnichak (an interchangeable station), Bhootnath, Zero Mile and ISBT. 

"112 pillars have been erected from Malahi Pakri up to Bhootnath while altogether 210 pillars will be developed for elevated network of Corridor II. Piling work has also commenced from Zero Mile to ISBT, which is likely to be ready by December 2022. Construction of twin tunnels, underground ramp at Rajendra Nagar and six underground stations from Rajendra Nagar to Akashvani, which is also a part of Corridor II, will begin once the funds are allocated," said officials.

The estimated cost of Patna Metro Rail project is Rs13,365.77 crore (excluding land acquisition cost, which is to be borne by the state government). TheCentre and State governments each will bear 20% of the project cost and the remaining 60% will be borrowed as loan from JICA.