The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Republic Day (26 January) achieved a major milestone in its Patna Metro project work by erecting the project’s first-ever U-girder.
The first U-Girder span was placed between two piers near Bhoothnath Station on the priority corridor between Malahi Pakri and Patliputra Inter-State Bus Terminal (ISBT).
U-girders are precast pre-tensioned, structures on which track laying can be done immediately. Metro projects across the world are extensively using U-girders, which saves time in construction besides ensuring better quality.
After casting, these girders are brought to the site and launched with the help of high-capacity cranes or launchers.
A total of 308 such U-girders are planned to be erected in priority corridor while each structure weighs around 160 tonnes.
Two Corridors
The DMRC is the nodal agency for the Patna Metro project which has two corridors — Corridor 1 from Danapur to Khemnichak and Corridor 2 from Patna Station to Patliputra ISBT.
The 14.5-km-long Corridor-2 includes a 6.6-km long elevated priority corridor and a 7.9-km underground stretch.
The elevated priority corridor will have five metro stations, namely, Malahi Pakri, Khemnichak, Bhoothnath, Zero Mile and Patliputra Bus Terminal.
The 7.9-km-long underground section will run between Frazer Road to Rajendra Nagar, consisting of seven underground stations — Patna Junction, Akashvani, Gandhi Maidan, PMCH, Patna University, Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Rajendra Nagar
While the priority corridor will be ready by 2025, the underground section of Corridor 2 will be completed by 2026.
Khemnichak will be the interchangeable station between the two corridors and will have two platforms at the same level.
30 Per cent Work Completed
Work on the priority corridor is in speed after the required land has been handed over and a total of 30 per cent civil works have been completed.
The civil work on priority corridor is to get ready by last quarter of 2024, after which electrical and rolling stock work will start. With the start of the launching of U-girders, timely commissioning of the project is expected.
Single Depot
There will be only one depot for the entire Patna Metro, to be built at SH-1, Bairiya Chak in Sampatchak at Paijawa, near the Patliputra ISBT.
The proposed deadline for the completion of metro depot near Patliputra ISBT is March 2025 along with the priority corridor.
ISBT depot is proposed to be constructed in a total area of 30.5 hectares, out of which 19.2 hectares are dedicated to the depot and rest for property development.
As per the detailed project report, the depot will be laced with state-of-the-art technology. The facility will have two workshop bays and three inspection bays, a testing track, eight stabling bays, which can accommodate 32 three-coach trains, and auto-coach washing.