The Patna Metro project has received a major relief as the Indian Railways finally granted the much-needed No Objection Certificate (NOC). The tunnel excavation work between Moin-ul-Haq Stadium and Rajendra Nagar Terminal, which was stalled since December 2025, will now resume on March 12, 2026. Dr. Sandeep Kumar R. Pudalkatti, Managing Director of Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), issued the orders to restart the work immediately after the official announcement.
Why was the Patna Metro work stopped?
The construction of the underground network faced a roadblock because the tunnel has to pass directly beneath the busy Patna-Howrah main railway line. The East Central Railway needed to conduct a detailed engineering assessment before giving permission. They wanted to make sure that the metro construction would not disturb the active railway tracks or the future expansion plans of the Rajendra Nagar Terminal. Now that the approval is here, two Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) are ready to complete this complex 1.8 km stretch.
Key Details About Rajendra Nagar Station and Route
- The Rajendra Nagar Metro Station will be the deepest station on this network.
- It goes about 21 meters or 69 feet underground to safely cross below the railway tracks.
- The target to finish the 6 km tunnel construction from Moin-ul-Haq Stadium to Patna Junction is April 2026.
- The overall underground network of 7.9 km is expected to be ready by the end of 2026.
- This new section connects the Kankarbagh area with Patna Junction and the New ISBT.
Project Cost and Public Impact
This metro line is a big upgrade for the daily commuters in Patna. The total project is valued at around 13,365 crore rupees. A small priority section from New ISBT to Bhoothnath is already operational with an estimated fare of 30 rupees. Once the tunnel linking Rajendra Nagar to Malahi Pakri is completed, people will save a lot of time traveling across the city. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is handling the execution of this massive infrastructure project for Bihar.
