RailEnquiry

PATNA: Some technical experts of railways have welcomed the move of the state government to introduce metro or mono rail services in the city to cater to the needs of common people. They even suggested the best possible routes for metro along the Ganga between Danapur and Fatuha, a distance of about 30km or all along the Bailey Road, from Gandhi Maidan to Dak Bungalow and then Dak Bungalow to Saguna Mor and Kurji Mor via Boring Road. According to them, underground (tunnel) metro in Patna is not feasible keeping in view the geography of the city. However, it is feasible in Patna on these routes on the pattern of Delhi, they said, adding this ambitious project will cost the government about Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore for 30km stretch. Though the cost of metro rail on surface is likely to be about Rs10 crore to Rs 12 crore per km, the underground metro will cost about Rs 200 to Rs 250 crore per km as specially-designed imported airconditioned compressed coaches would be required.

Thus, it will be better if both the railways and the state government make a joint venture to turn this dream project into a reality for Patnaites, they added. Former chief engineer of railways, G N Sahay, sounds optimistic about the feasibility of metro or mono rail on the Ganga corridor or Bailey Road.

He, however, says that the state government must find an alternative mode of communication on the busiest Ashok Rajpath where Patna University, Patna Medical College and Hospital, civil court, private nursing homes and several other important institutions are located.

While metro on the surface is not feasible on this road, the government could think of providing metro rail services all along the bank of Ganga, he said. Sahay admitted that the concept of metro rail has changed a lot at global level.