Over 50k take Patna metro in 1st week, commuters hail hassle-free ride

Patna: Since its launch on Oct 6, Patna metro has seen over 51,000 commuters, including office-goers, students, workers, shoppers and other visitors, taking the 3.6-km elevated section of Corridor II, connecting Bhoothnath, Zero Mile and Patliputra Bus Terminal stations.The officials of Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) said that on an average, the elevated network has witnessed a footfall of 7,000 per day (more than 280 people in one trip), while it reached 11,000 on Sunday. On Oct 7, the day when the metro was opened for public, 6,500 people took the ride. The officials said that the footfall is at its peak during the evening hours (from 5pm to 8pm).Sonal Verma, a resident of Bazaar Samiti, said the city has finally got a fast and cost-efficient public transport system it lacked for so many years.

“People no longer face traffic jams on roads and reach their destinations without any hassle. It takes only nine minutes to reach Bhoothnath from Patliputra ISBT,” she said.Rohit Agarwal, a resident of Transport Nagar, barely five minutes away from the Zero Mile station, said no more waiting for auto and e-rickshaws, or buses. “I wish the PMRC expedites the ongoing work and extend the network soon so that we can travel to other areas like Rajendra Nagar, Gandhi Maidan and Patna Junction,” said Agarwal.

The two other stations of Corridor II — Malahi Pakri and Kheminichak — are slated to be opened for public by the end of 2025, said Archana Khushi, spokesperson of PMRC. “The civil work is complete, and finishing touches are underway. The total stretch will be 6.5 km,” she said, adding that so far, the response was good and people are coming to experience the metro ride, taking selfies and making reels.The Corridor II will be 14.5km long, including an 8.08-km underground section comprising seven stations: Rajendra Nagar, Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, University, PMCH, Gandhi Maidan, Akashvani and Patna Junction.To maintain cleanliness, the PMRC has imposed a Rs 200 fine for violations like spitting gutka on station premises, after several such videos made rounds on social nedia platforms. So far, three individuals have been fined for such offences.To spread awareness, the corporation has introduced measures, including regular announcements urging commuters to keep stations clean, along with banners and messages displayed at the stations to reinforce the importance of maintaining a tidy environment.