JICA keen to fund ₹5,521 crores for Phase 1 of Patna Metro Rail project

Patna, India (Metro Rail Today): The Japanese financial institution Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has shown interest to provide financial assistance for the proposed Patna Metro Rail project in the capital city of Bihar. A delegation from the JICA has recently visited Patna on May 12, 2022, to assess the feasibility of their involvement in the Patna Metro Rail Corporation Limited (PMRC).

"The JICA team members, during their week-long stay, inspected the ongoing work on the priority corridor and other initial works on networks and metro stations on the ground. Besides, they reviewed the detailed project report (DPR) of the Patna Metro Rail project. Apart from this, the delegation has held discussions with the senior officers and reviewed the status of the work. Talks on funding the project were also done, following which work on underground networks and stations of both the corridors will begin," said officials of the State Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD).

"JICA is expected to give Rs 5520.9 crore to the Bihar government for this project. The total cost of the Metro rail project is Rs 13,365.77 crore, of which the central government has to give Rs 1840.31 crore. Out of this, the centre has released Rs 262.50 crore while the state government share is Rs 5,908.17 crore, out of which 1070.59 crore has been released, said sources.

"They are positive this time the JICA will provide the loan and one of their teams will stay in Patna to review the ongoing work and provide technical expertise till the project is completed. We are expecting that the pace of the Patna Metro Rail project will pick up with the visit of the JICA team,” said a PMRC official.

As per the officials of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, around 9-10% of work has been completed on the ongoing project. The elevated metro line of the priority corridor will have five stations, including Malahi Pakri, Khemni Chak, Bhoothnath, Zero Mile and Patliputra bus terminal.