Expedite metro rail work: CM to officials

Patna: CM Samrat Choudhary on Saturday asked the officials concerned to adhere to timelines and remove bottlenecks delaying the Patna Metro Rail project, stressing the need to expedite work so people benefit from improved urban transport.At a meeting to review key infrastructure projects — including the Patna Metro, proposed Greenfield satellite townships and J P Ganga Path Samagra Udyan (Phase 1) — Samrat emphasised that township development is crucial for planned urban growth and should proceed in a phased manner as scheduled.Principal secretary, urban development and housing department, Vinay Kumar presented the status of projects and flagged technical and operational hurdles affecting metro work, including cost escalations and delays.The meeting also reviewed 11 proposed satellite townships aimed at boosting urbanisation, with discussions on legal processes and implementation stages. A proposal for a Personal Rapid Transit System (PRTS) to connect Patna airport with the metro network was also discussed to improve passenger mobility.On the J P Ganga Path project, road construction department secretary Pankaj Kumar Pal said the 6-km Phase 1 stretch from Digha to Sabhyata Dwar is likely to be completed by Sept 25, 2027. The project includes gardens, walkways, cycle tracks, playgrounds, a women’s market and parking facilities.Samrat described the riverside development as a significant initiative and stressed timely execution with focus on environmental sustainability and safe public access.After the meeting, Samrat inspected the project at Digha, LCT Ghat and Bans Ghat, issuing directions to enhance beautification while ensuring safety. Senior officials, including chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit, were present.