To strengthen the nerves of the city and to open the gates of time towards a brighter future and an easier lifestyle, the vigorous construction of the giant electric rail network is on the go! Heavy machines everywhere! Intense engineering, dense fabrication, erection of exceedingly large pillars and constant digging of roads has become a regular expression of this continuous city that is always in making.
Patna is going to run its first underground and elevated electric railway operation - soon after which, it will be pinned as a metropolitan; larger than what it is and officially amongst the busiest cities of India. It would then transform into a super urban hub thus adding the real meaning of ‘metropolis’ to its personality. And that perhaps would make the city smarter than ever! But what cannot be questioned is since last four years the traffic in the city is constantly getting affected and pollutants in the air are finding more space than oxygen! The jam-packed situations and the alteration of routes has now become a regular hitch and is bungling up with people’s lives. The scorching heat and poor air quality is just adding up to the problem.
According to an official report -
Patna was the second most polluted city in India on Sunday, recording an air quality index (AQI) of 316, which is classified as 'very poor'. Other cities in the state that recorded 'poor' AQI are Siwan (282), Muzaffarpur (233), Hajipur (232) and Bettiah (221) as on 5th May 2024.
Common people in such scenario can only gather shear patience and wait for the good days to come, like they have been waiting since ever. Sometimes after a long tough day, I recall the good old days when in every monsoon there existed a thrill of climbing the temple's dome from where we used to pluck freshly washed jamuns from the tree that enveloped our home, their deep purple hue enticing us with promises of sweetness; remembering that joy itself helps me feel oxygenated. Perhaps Metro would liberate us from the vicious pollution and day to day congestions and help the city inside me breathe joy again.
THE CONSTRUCTION AND PLANNING:
Patna Metro with 2 lines and 24 stations is an urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) under construction in Patna, Bihar’s capital and largest city, by Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL).
30.91 km Patna Metro’s Phase 1 project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) was prepared by RITES and approved by Bihar’s state government on February 9, 2016.
On September 25 2018, the Bihar government approved the constitution of Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL) as the operator or special purpose vehicle for its implementation, which in turn appointed the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) as the General Consultant (GC) to assist with its implementation.
The project received the Central Government’s approval on February 6, 2019 and PM Modi laid its foundation stone on February 17, 2019.
The project is planned to be partly financed through an official development assistance (ODA) loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Ground work for Patna Metro’s Phase 1 began in November 2020 by NCC and piling for construction work in December 2020.
Patna Metro’s first section is expected to be completed and opened in August 2024 beyond its August 2023 deadline. Phase 1 is expected to be completed in 2027.
WHATS HAPPENING IN ASHOK RAJPATH AREA ??
In Ashok Rajpath concern rate is a bit high. Lets understand what's happening!
The recent urban developments in Patna concerning the underground alignment of the Patna Metro and the construction of a double-decker flyover in the Ashok Rajpath area highlight the intricate challenges of urban planning in a rapidly growing city. Here's a revised summary of the key points:
Alignment Adjustment: The planned underground route of the Patna Metro traversing the bustling Ashok Rajpath area has been modified due to the ongoing construction of a double-decker flyover by the Bihar government. The original alignment faced significant interference from the flyover's construction, necessitating a change in plans.
Route Revision: To mitigate disruptions and preserve the integrity of existing infrastructure and heritage buildings, the metro's alignment has been relocated from the main road to the institutional area along the northern side of Ashok Rajpath, passing beneath institutional buildings.
Historical Significance: Ashok Rajpath, stretching from Gandhi Maidan to NIT campus, boasts numerous old and heritage structures, including educational institutions like Patna University, Patna College, and Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Protecting these architectural treasures while accommodating modern infrastructure projects is crucial for maintaining the city's historical identity.
Progress Update: Concurrently, both the Patna Metro and double-decker flyover projects are progressing. While the flyover construction involves excavation work and pier installation along the main thoroughfare, metro personnel are engaged in civil works within the Science College campus and adjacent to PMCH's main gates.
Metro Line Details: The Ashok Rajpath segment forms part of Line-2 of the Patna Metro, spanning 14.45 km and classified as a priority corridor. Proposed stations on this line's underground stretch include Akashwani, Gandhi Maidan, PMCH, University, and Moin ul Haq Stadium.
Station Locations: Metro stations along this route are strategically situated to serve key areas, with stations planned near landmarks such as Gandhi Maidan, PMCH's main entrance, and the Science College campus. The temporary closure of PMCH's main gate underscores the logistical challenges posed by infrastructure projects.
Double-Decker Flyover: Spearheaded by Bihar Rajya Pul Nirman Nigam Limited (BRPNNL), the double-decker flyover project aims to alleviate traffic congestion in the area. Spanning over 2 km, it will link Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan to NIT More on Ashok Rajpath, providing an alternative route for commuters.
These developments underscore the dynamic urban landscape of Patna, where infrastructure initiatives must strike a delicate balance between modernization and heritage preservation.
(PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY, PROFESSORS, DOCTORS, VENDORS AND SHOPKEEPERS EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS, CONCERNS AND OPINION ABOUT THE CONSTRUCTION OF PATNA METRO)
The shift in the infrastructural framework is drastic! The technological advancement and intelligence is at its peak. Urbanisation is exceeding with parameters like never before.
As of March 2024, India has 902.4 kilometers (560.7 miles) of operational metro lines in 17 cities. India's metro network is the third longest in the world, behind China and USA. A further 779.27 km of lines are under construction.
Where are we going? What are we becoming? What lies in future? These are a few out of many questions we need to think and find answers for. We need to keep a check on the balance between the concrete and the natural. We must seek for music in the noise and find a patch of sky across the smoke. The highways and railways are meant to connect and hence play a significant role in establishing growth. In the same way we need to keep bridging the gaps and dissolving the barriers that disconnects us from who we are!
‘WE’ TOO NEED TO GROW!
Someone at some place in future must always sing with belief and without hesitance :
I see trees of green,
Red roses too;
I see them bloom
For me and you
And I sing to myself – What a wonderful world!
