The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has signed a loan agreement with the Government of India to provide Japanese ODA loan of 98,612 million yen (Rs 5,509 crore) for the phase-1 of the Patna Metro Rail project.
The estimated cost of the project is Rs 13,365.77 crore ($1.7 billion). The project is expected to be commissioned by 2028.
The objective of the project is to cope with the increase of traffic demand in Patna, by constructing the new metro corridor 1 and 2, thereby contributing to improvement of the urban environment and development focused on public transportation, as well as mitigation of climate change.
According to the plan, JICA will appoint consultants for providing consulting
services (including construction supervision) for the project by June 2023. The initial procurement package for international competitive bidding on the project construction will also be launched in June 2023.
The loan amount has been sanctioned for a repayment period of 30 years with 10 years grace period.
The 14.05 km corridor-2 of Patna Metro will connect Patna railway junction to new inter-state bus terminal with 12 stations — at Patna junction (interchange with corridor-1), Akashvani, Gandhi Maidan, PMCH, Patna University, Moin Ul Hag Stadium, Rajendra Nagar, Malahi Pakri, Khemni Chak (interchange), Bhoothnath, Zero Mile and New ISBT.
Out of this, 6 km section is going to be with five stations elevated and the remaining 8 km is with seven stations underground.
Notes in this regard were exchanged between Rajat Kumar Mishra, additional secretary, (DEA) and Japan ambassador to India, Suzuki Hiroshi.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Patna Metro Rail Development managing director and additional chief secretary of the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD), Arunish Chawla along with senior officials from JICA. Bihar Resident Commissioner Kundan Kumar was also present at the event.