Author: Bihar Say | Amrita |

Patna Metro Is About to Dig Deeper: Four TBMs Will Change How the City Connects

Patna’s Metro story is about to move underground in a much bigger way.

Near Patna Zoo, the design of an upcoming Metro station is being reconsidered. Meanwhile, four massive Tunnel Boring Machines, or TBMs, are expected to enter the ground in November.

Two will head towards Patna Junction. The other two will move towards Rukanpura.

Together, they will begin carving out the underground network that could eventually change how thousands of people move across Bihar’s capital.

This is not just another construction update. It marks one of the most important stages in the next phase of the Patna Metro project.

What Is Changing Near Patna Zoo?

The Metro station under construction near Patna Zoo is set to undergo a design change.

Patna Metro Rail Corporation Managing Director Sandeep Kumar R. Pudukkalakatty recently held a meeting with officials and agencies connected to the project. Representatives from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and other concerned agencies also shared suggestions regarding the revised design.

The focus, therefore, is not simply on changing how the station looks.

The design work is directly connected to the larger underground construction planned around the site.

Importantly, the Metro shaft near Patna Zoo is expected to become the launch point for four TBMs in November.

That makes the location a crucial part of Patna Metro’s next construction phase.

Four TBMs Will Enter the Ground in November

A Tunnel Boring Machine is a specialised machine used to excavate tunnels underground.

In November, four such machines are expected to be lowered through the Metro shaft near Patna Zoo.

This is where the project becomes especially interesting.

Two TBMs will move east towards Patna Junction. They will build separate tunnels for the Up and Down Metro lines.

At the same time, two other TBMs will move west towards Rukanpura.

They will also construct two separate tunnels.

As a result, underground construction on both sides of the Patna Zoo area could gather pace at the same time.

From Patna Junction to Rukanpura, a New Underground Link Takes Shape

The first major underground phase of Corridor One will focus on the stretch between Patna Junction and Rukanpura.

The four TBMs will play a central role in building this section.

For commuters, this matters because underground Metro construction is often one of the most complex parts of any urban rail project.

Roads cannot simply be blocked for years. Existing buildings, utilities and dense neighbourhoods also create challenges.

Therefore, tunnel construction allows Metro infrastructure to move beneath the city while keeping much of life above ground running.

The work will demand careful coordination, especially around busy parts of Patna.

Project officials have also stressed the need to remove construction obstacles through better coordination between agencies.

At the same time, they have been asked to focus on quality and safety standards.

Patna Metro Corridor One: A 17.93-Km Network

Corridor One of the Patna Metro project will cover 17.93 kilometres.

Out of this, 10.54 kilometres will run underground, while 7.39 kilometres will be elevated.

The underground portion represents a major engineering challenge. However, it could also become one of the most significant additions to Patna’s urban transport system.

The first underground phase will connect Patna Junction and Rukanpura.

Later, the underground section between Patna Junction and Mithapur is also planned.

Meanwhile, the elevated portion of Corridor One will connect Patliputra Station and Danapur.

Construction on this section is already progressing.

An elevated Metro section between Khemnichak and Mithapur is also under construction.

Why the Underground Metro Matters for Patna

Patna is a growing city with increasing pressure on its roads.

Daily movement across the city often depends heavily on road transport. That makes new mass transit infrastructure particularly important.

An underground Metro cannot solve every traffic problem. Yet, it can provide another high-capacity transport option across important parts of the city.

The Patna Junction–Rukanpura section is especially significant because it could connect key urban areas through a faster rail corridor.

Beyond daily commuters, improved urban transport can also matter for students, professionals, workers and businesses.

Better connectivity can change how easily people access workplaces, markets and educational institutions.

Eventually, a stronger public transport network can also support the wider growth of the city.

That is why the story of four TBMs is bigger than four machines.

They represent the point where planning begins turning into a physical network beneath Patna.

Patna Metro Corridor Two Is Also Expanding

Patna Metro’s Corridor Two has a total length of 14.55 kilometres.

According to the project details, 7.92 kilometres will run underground, while the remaining section will be elevated.

Metro operations have already begun on a 6.2-km elevated section of Corridor Two.

The operational stretch includes ISBT, Zero Mile, Bhootnath and Malahi Pakri stations.

Meanwhile, the underground section will cover key locations such as Rajendranagar, Moin-ul-Haq Stadium, Patna University, PMCH, Gandhi Maidan, Akashvani and Patna Junction.

Operations on this underground section are targeted for 2028.

A Bigger Transport Map Is Slowly Emerging

Patna Metro is not being built in one dramatic moment.

Instead, the project is taking shape section by section.

Some parts are elevated. Others are now preparing to go deep underground.

The Khemnichak–Mithapur elevated stretch has a target for Metro operations by June 2027.

Meanwhile, the underground work planned around Patna Zoo, Patna Junction and Rukanpura represents the next major engineering challenge.

For residents, construction may still look like barricades, shafts, pillars and machines.

However, beneath that activity, a completely different transport map is beginning to take shape.

And November could become an important month in that journey.

Why November Could Be a Key Moment for Patna Metro

When all four Tunnel Boring Machines enter the ground near Patna Zoo, underground construction will move into a more active phase.

Two machines heading towards Patna Junction and two towards Rukanpura could help accelerate tunnel work in both directions.

Clearly, the success of this phase will depend on execution, safety, coordination and the project’s ability to stay on schedule.

Still, the move signals visible progress in one of Bihar’s most ambitious urban infrastructure projects.

For Patna, the Metro is gradually becoming more than a plan discussed on paper.

It is becoming part of the city’s physical landscape — above the roads and, now, beneath them.

The next few months will show how quickly this underground network takes shape and how the project moves towards its future operational milestones.

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