Patna, July 2 (IANS) As Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the extended section of the Patna Metro Rail Project up to Malahi Pakri on Thursday, BJP State President Sanjay Saraogi called it a “big day” for the state.

This marks another milestone in the expansion of the city’s metro network.

Bihar BJP chief Sanjay Saraogi said the extension would significantly improve urban connectivity and benefit residents of the state.

Speaking about the inauguration, Saraogi said, “The Chief Minister has inaugurated the stations today. We are extending the Patna Metro network over time, and it will benefit the people of the state. This is a big day for Bihar.”

With the latest expansion, two additional stations will become operational on the Blue Line of the Patna Metro. The newly added stations are Khemnichak Metro Station and Malahipakri Metro Station, further extending the existing operational corridor.

Earlier, during a review meeting held at Lok Sewak Awas in Patna on June 29, the Chief Minister conducted a detailed assessment of the progress of the Patna Metro Rail Project and issued several directions to officials overseeing its implementation.

During the meeting, CM Choudhary stressed that a definite timeline should be fixed for every phase of the project and directed officials to ensure that all construction work is completed within the prescribed schedule. He also emphasised that the quality of construction should not be compromised under any circumstances.

The Chief Minister further instructed officials to accelerate work at multiple project sites to ensure timely completion. He also directed the authorities to minimise inconvenience to commuters and local residents during the construction phase by implementing a comprehensive and effective traffic management plan.

The Patna Metro Rail Project received approval in 2019 and comprises two corridors. Line 1, also known as the Red Line, spans approximately 16.86 km and connects Danapur Cantonment with Khemnichak. Line 2, or the Blue Line, covers around 14.56 km, linking Patna Junction with the New ISBT.

At present, metro services are operational on a 4.3 km stretch comprising three stations — New ISBT, Zero Mile and Bhootnath. Once the entire project is completed, the Patna Metro network will extend to nearly 32.5 km with a total of 24 stations, substantially strengthening the city’s public transport infrastructure.

–IANS

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