The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is to provide a loan worth around €684 million for a metro project in the city of Patna. The loan is part of a collected signing of four loan agreements between JICA and the Indian government worth a total of around €3 billion. The project concerns the construction of the first two metro lines in the capital of the state of Bihar, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028. Under the loan agreement, JICA will appoint consultants for the project by June 2023. The initial procurement package for international competitive bidding on project construction will also be launched then. The loan amount has a repayment period of 30 years with a ten-year grace period. The 16.9 km east-west line 1 will run from Danapur Cantonment to Khemni Chak, comprising a 9.4 km elevated section with eight stations and a 7.5 km underground section with six stations. The 14 km line 2 will connect the Patna Railway Junction with the New Inter State Bus Terminal. The north-south line includes a 6 km elevated section with five stations and an 8 km underground section with seven stations. The project is estimated to cost €1.56 billion.
