Patna metro likely to be delayed due to land acquisition hurdles

The Patna metro rail project is likely to be stalled due to difficulties in land acquisition and funds shortage. The wait for the acquisition of 76 acres of land at Ranipur and Pahadi Mauza for the planned ISBT metro depot is getting longer as more people have declined to hand over their land. About 650 people have opposed the land purchase. Patna DM Chandrashekhar Singh told the media that a meeting would be conducted on February 17 to hear the grievances of the people. A representative of the landowners will attend the meeting. The land procurement for the metro depot is under process. The affected people will be compensated according to the market value of the land. The DM said that the value for 76 acres of land in Patna Sadar, comprising 50 acres in Pahadi and 25 acres in Ranipur, was about Rs 726 crore and the state government has already given Rs 1,000 crore. After the declaration of individual awards for land, the funds will be handed over to the landowners. A PMRC official told the media that delay in the land purchase was a big concern. The funding agency, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will render a loan just after they give them the assets. At least 108.6 acres of land are needed and 76 acres will be utilised for the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT) metro depot. Total government land is 27 acres, but approval was obtained from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), just for 15 acres of land. The estimated cost of the Patna Metro project is Rs 13,365 crore (excluding land purchase cost, which will be borne by the state government). The official told the media that 20% of the project cost will be borne by the state government, 20% by the Centre and the remaining 60% will be borrowed as a loan from JICA. The tender was allocated for both elevated parts and an underground network of Corridor I (Danapur to Khemnichak via Mithapur) and Corridor II (Patna Junction to Patliputra bus terminal via Gandhi Maidan). Image Source Also read: Patna metro rail project's corridor 2 gains momentum