Summary: The Patna Metro project has achieved a major engineering breakthrough as the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) successfully excavated the stretch from Moin-ul-Haq Stadium to Gandhi Maidan. Underground construction is entering its final phases along Corridor-2 (Blue Line) to connect central administrative hubs.
Developing an underground transit network in a historic and densely populated city like Patna is a complex engineering challenge. However, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) have recorded a significant achievement: the successful tunnel breakthrough at the upcoming **Gandhi Maidan underground station**. This milestone represents the completion of the tunnel stretch starting from Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, paving the way for track laying and electrification works in the central section of Corridor-2.
The TBM Breakthrough at Gandhi Maidan
Underground tunneling for the Patna Metro is executed using advanced **Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs)**. These giant machines, often nicknamed 'metro rats', cut through the thick gangetic silt, consolidate the tunnel walls, and install precast concrete rings in a single synchronized operation. Excavating the segment leading to Gandhi Maidan required extreme caution due to the presence of old buildings, dense commercial structures, and busy vehicular roads directly above the tunneling path.
Engineers monitored the surface settlement in real-time to ensure that no structural damage occurred to historical properties around Gandhi Maidan. With this tunnel breakthrough achieved, the TBM will be disassembled, serviced, and shifted to begin tunneling the next major link toward the Akashvani and Patna Junction sections, scheduled to commence in **June 2026**.
Strategic Focus: The Ashok Rajpath and Central Corridor
The underground alignment of Corridor-2 (Blue Line) is of high economic and social value to Patna. It traverses through **Ashok Rajpath**, which is historically the commercial, medical, and educational spine of the city. Roads in this area are extremely narrow, and vehicular traffic is heavily congested. An elevated metro was ruled out here due to the lack of right-of-way, making underground construction the only viable alternative.
The underground stations in this corridor include:
- Rajendra Nagar: Connecting the major Rajendra Nagar Railway Terminal to the metro.
- Moin-ul-Haq Stadium: Serving sports enthusiasts and the dense surrounding colonies.
- Patna University (Science College): Catering to thousands of students and academic staff.
- PMCH: Servicing Patna Medical College and Hospital, the largest public healthcare facility in Bihar.
- Gandhi Maidan: Located at the central public ground, close to the Kargil Chowk bus stand.
- Akashvani: Positioned near All India Radio and the business offices of Dak Bungalow Road.
⚡ Underground Construction Highlights
- Deepest Station: Rajendra Nagar Metro Station will be built at a depth of 21 meters to clear existing railway infrastructure.
- PMCH Hospital Link: PMCH station will feature a direct pedestrian subway link to the hospital wards for patients.
- IT Golambar Barricading: Soil testing and preparatory shaft construction are underway near the Income Tax Golambar.
- Tunnel Completion Rate: The Gandhi Maidan to Akashvani segment has reached approximately 90% completion.
Engineering Spotlight: Rajendra Nagar Deep Station
The Rajendra Nagar underground station will be the deepest engineering marvel on the Patna Metro network. Commuters will travel down to platforms situated **21 meters below ground level**. The extreme depth is necessitated by the requirement to pass safely beneath the heavy tracks of the East Central Railway line above. DMRC is deploying special cut-and-cover excavation techniques alongside continuous soil-grouting to keep the water table stable and prevent seepage during the construction phase.
Vikas Bhawan and Vidyut Bhawan Extensions
In addition to Corridor-2, parts of Corridor-1 (Red Line) will also run underground in the central administrative core. Tunneling work is scheduled to connect Vidyut Bhawan (near Income Tax Golambar) with Vikas Bhawan (near the Secretariat). This section will serve the thousands of government employees and lawyers visiting the High Court and Bihar Secretariat daily, helping to clear the massive traffic jams that form around these office zones every morning and evening.
| Underground Station | Excavation Status | Expected Opening Phase |
|---|---|---|
| Moin-ul-Haq Stadium | 100% Tunnel Civil Work Completed | Phase 1B (Late 2026) |
| PMCH Hospital | 85% Civil Structure Done | Phase 2A (Mid 2027) |
| Gandhi Maidan | TBM Breakthrough Completed | Phase 1B (Late 2026) |
| Akashvani | 90% Tunneling Completed | Phase 2A (Mid 2027) |
| Rajendra Nagar | Deep Shaft Excavation ongoing (21m) | Phase 2B (2028) |
Operational Roadmap and Public Transit Integration
The target for the priority elevated section is mid-2026, while the underground corridor of Phase-1 is scheduled to open in stages between late 2026 and 2028. PMRCL is integrating the metro tickets with the local bus transit system, allowing passengers to use unified smart cards for both the Vercel-linked local buses and the metro train system. This will make Patna one of the most transit-integrated cities in East India.
हिंदी में मुख्य विवरण (Bilingual Summary)
पटना मेट्रो के अंडरग्राउंड रूट पर काम कर रही टनल बोरिंग मशीन (TBM) ने एक बड़ी सफलता हासिल की है। मोइन-उल-हक स्टेडियम से गांधी मैदान तक टनल की खुदाई का काम सफलतापूर्वक पूरा हो चुका है।
इस परियोजना की प्रमुख जानकारियां इस प्रकार हैं:
- अशोक राजपथ पर राहत: अशोक राजपथ जैसे व्यस्त और संकरे रास्ते पर ट्रैफिक जाम से मुक्ति दिलाने के लिए इस पूरे हिस्से को अंडरग्राउंड बनाया जा रहा है।
- राजेंद्र नगर सबसे गहरा स्टेशन: रेल पटरियों के नीचे से गुजरने के कारण राजेंद्र नगर स्टेशन को जमीन से 21 मीटर नीचे बनाया जा रहा है, जो पूरे पटना मेट्रो में सबसे गहरा होगा।
- अस्पताल से सीधा जुड़ाव: पीएमसीएच (PMCH) स्टेशन को सीधे अस्पताल परिसर से जोड़ा जाएगा ताकि मरीजों और तीमारदारों को असुविधा न हो।
- अगला चरण: गांधी मैदान से आकाशवाणी और डाकबंगला होते हुए पटना जंक्शन तक टनल बनाने का काम जून 2026 से और तेज़ कर दिया जाएगा।
Disclaimer: This is an independent, unofficial informational guide. For official updates, please visit Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) or Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) official portals.