Bihar government passes proposal for Patna Metro, cost estimated to be Rs 16,960 crore

Patna: Bihar Government has passed a proposal for Patna Metro, the cost of which is estimated to be Rs 16,960 Crore, as per reports on Tuesday.

The project would be carried out in the next five years.

The Cabinet gave its approval to urban development department to send a proposal to JICA and Asian Development Bank for the project, Principal Secretary of Cabinet Coordination Brajesh Malhotra told reporters.

The meeting was presided over by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Earlier on February 2, Kumar had said at Gazipur in Uttar Pradesh that the state government would not allow metro project in Patna until some technique is developed that could ensure that historical value of the city is not affected due to it.

"Patna is a historical city and was known as Patliputra in ancient times. We will not allow metro there until some technique is evolved that could ensure that underground tracks don't affect the historical value of the city," he had said, as per PTI.

The Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) had in 2014 submitted the DPR on the project to the Bihar government, reducing the project estimates to Rs 14,000 crore from Rs 17,000 crore earlier.

The project will reportedly cover a distance of 40 km.

Patna is estimated to be home to more than two million people.

Though major developments have taken place over the last few years like building of flyovers, it faces major traffic congestion on its roads.

(With Agency inputs)