**What the New Patna Metro, Inaugurated by Nitish Kumar, Will Feature**
*By Snehil Singh | October 6, 2025, 8:30 PM*
Just hours before the Election Commission of India announced the poll schedule for Bihar, the Patna Metro was officially launched. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated the first operational stretch of the metro—a 4.3-kilometer priority corridor between Bhutnath Road and New ISBT. This initial corridor includes three stations: ISBT, Zero Mile, and Bhutnath Road. The metro service will open to the public starting October 7.
### Operational Features
The Patna Metro will run daily from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, with trains operating at 20-minute intervals. Initially, trains will run at a maximum speed of 40 km/h, making approximately 40 to 42 trips per day.
Fares are set affordably, ranging from ₹15 for the ISBT to Zero Mile section, up to ₹30 for the New ISBT to Bhutnath Road stretch. Each coach can accommodate up to 945 standing passengers and includes 138 seats. Importantly, 12 seats are reserved for women and persons with disabilities.
### Safety and Design Enhancements
The metro coaches are adorned with traditional Madhubani paintings and stickers showcasing Bihar’s iconic landmarks, adding a cultural touch to the commuter experience.
For passenger safety, every coach is equipped with 360-degree CCTV cameras, emergency buttons, and microphones for direct communication with train operators in case of emergencies. Additionally, Bihar Special Armed Police (BSAP) personnel will be deployed across all metro premises to ensure security.
The inaugural Patna Metro train features new coaches manufactured by Alstom in Vadodara, Gujarat.
### Expansion Plans: Underground Corridor
Alongside the launch, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar laid the foundation stone for a 9.35-kilometer underground metro corridor, part of Corridor-1. This subterranean section is estimated to cost ₹2,565.8 crore and will include six underground stations, stretching from Patna Junction to Rukanpura and Mithapur.
### Project Overview and Timeline
The entire Patna Metro project is projected to cost ₹13,925.5 crore, with financial assistance from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Government of India, and the Government of Bihar.
Once complete, the metro will span a total length of 31.42 kilometers, comprising two corridors—the 16.86-kilometer Red Line and the 14.56-kilometer Blue Line—with 24 stations planned in total. Full-scale operations across all phases are expected to commence by 2027.
To accelerate services, Patna Metro has leased a three-coach train set from Pune Metro for three years at a cost of ₹21.15 crore, a move approved on July 15.
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The inauguration of the Patna Metro marks a significant step forward in Bihar’s urban transport infrastructure, offering efficient, safe, and culturally enriched metro services to the public.
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