A tunnel boring machine (TBM) has broken through at the under-construction Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) metro station on Patna Metro’s PC-03 corridor in Bihar, India.
This marks a key milestone for Patna’s first underground metro line, with services expected to begin across up to five stations by the end of December, reported Patna Press.
The PC-03 corridor runs through central Patna and is considered one of the most technically demanding parts of the wider network, noted the publication.
The TBM, launched from Moin-ul-Haq Stadium in 2023, has travelled beneath Rajendra Nagar, Patna University, PMCH, Gandhi Maidan and Akashvani, and is now heading towards Patna Junction.
The arrival at PMCH is expected to support quicker tunnelling progress and ease construction activity at subsequent stations.
Separately, early steps for track installation in the underground stretch between Rajendra Nagar and Patna University have started, with a tender issued for the work.
Soil investigation is also continuing along the planned tunnel alignment from Rukanpura to Patna Junction.
Boring is being carried out at about 12 points on Nehru Path, at depths of up to 50m, to assess ground conditions.
Samples are being laboratory-tested to guide the final route and tunnel safety provisions.
Stations on the PC-03 corridor are being planned with accessibility and passenger information systems, including escalators, lifts and digital display screens for live service updates, reported Rail Analysis.
The plans also include automated ticket vending machines and QR-based smart cards, platform screen doors, and commercial areas such as retail spaces and food outlets at some locations.
Security arrangements cited include CCTV coverage, emergency buttons and operational staffing.
The Patna Metro Project was approved in 2019 as a joint programme of the Government of India and the Government of Bihar.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is handling the implementation of the project.
The project cost is estimated at Rs133.65bn ($1.47bn), with partial funding support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
A trial run took place on 29 September 2025, testing signalling, communications, automatic fare collection, braking and emergency response systems.
