DMRC proposes several changes in DPR of Patna Metro rail corridors

Patna (Urban Transport News): In response to Patna Metro Rail Corporation's request, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has suggested several changes in the detailed project report (DPR) of the Patna Metro Rail project. The original DPR was prepared by Railway consultancy firm Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES).

In this regard, DMRC has written a letter to PMRC on November 11. Through this letter, DMRC has proposed linking of the two corridors by constructing a 3 km-long viaduct with interchange station at Khemni Chak and underground metro stations on the two corridors at Patna Junction to provide easy interchange.

The DMRC has proposed following major changes in both corridors of the Patna Metro Rail project- 1) Mithapur station in the corridor-I (east-west corridor) and Khemni Chak station in corridor-II (north-south corridor) will have a distance of only 3 km. The two stations will be connected by a viaduct with additional two stations and an interchange at Khemni Chak.

In the present DPR, there was no such connecting facility between the two corridors. 2) In the east-west corridor, to start from Danapur cantonment up to Mithapur, the DMRC has proposed an elevated Pataliputra metro station, instead of an underground one planned earlier. In another section of the same corridor between Rukanpura and Raja Bazar, the DPR suggested the demolition of 44 private structures. The DMRC has now suggested to PMRC to look for some other option as the demolition of private structures may cause problems in acquiring lands.

They have also proposed to remove Golf Club metro station, as the next station near Patna Zoo is only 670 metres away. 3) In the north-south corridor which is starting from Patna Junction to New ISBT, the DMRC has suggested avoiding Kumhrar area as it is archaeologically important. As per the DPR, the alignment between ISBT and Rajendra Nagar station was supposed to pass through Zero Mile-Gandhi Setu-Kumhrar-NMCH. But DMRC has suggested ISBT-Zero Mile-Bhootnath Road-Khemni Chak-Malahi Pakri-Rajendra Nagar Terminal route. 4) In the north-south corridor, Akashwani and Patna Junction have now been proposed to be kept underground.

This will sort out the problem of land acquisition as the alignment passes through the Akashwani plot and a judge’s bungalow. Also, another metro station of corridor-1 near Patna Junction had been kept underground. If metro stations of both the corridors become underground, it will help in seamless interchange. Now, PMRC has to take the final decision on the proposed changes in the DPR of the Patna Metro Rail project. In the first week of this month, the Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) has directed DMRC to prepare revised plan of Patna Metro.