Patna Metro capacity set to nearly double on Corridor I
Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (PMRCL) will add three new 6‑coach trains to its fleet, with the rakes expected to reach Patna from Pune by December 2026, officials reported. The sets, originally manufactured for Pune Metro by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited, will be taken on lease at an overall cost of about ₹63 crore.
The move is intended to expand passenger capacity on the elevated stretches of Corridor I (the Red Line). Each 6‑coach train is estimated to carry approximately 1,800 passengers (seated and standing), substantially higher than the present 3‑coach rakes in operation, which hold roughly 940 passengers.
Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd is set to add three new trains to its fleet.
Why the lease was chosen and operational compatibility
PMRCL has opted to lease ready rolling stock as a pragmatic, time‑saving measure. The decision follows an earlier arrangement in mid‑2025 when the corporation leased a 3‑coach train from Pune Metro; the Bihar Cabinet had approved ₹21.15 crore for that lease. Both cities employ standard‑gauge tracks and a 25 kV AC overhead traction system, allowing prompt redeployment of Pune's surplus rakes to Patna without major technical modification.
- Three 6‑coach rakes arriving from Pune by December 2026.
- Combined lease cost: around ₹63 crore.
- Each new train capacity: about 1,800 passengers; current 3‑coach trains: ~940 passengers.
Where these trains will operate and immediate network impact
The incoming trains are earmarked for the elevated sections of Corridor I (Red Line), which links Danapur and Khemnichak. The additional rolling stock will allow PMRCL to run longer sets and increase frequency on the operational stretch between Patliputra Inter‑State Bus Terminal (ISBT) and Malahi Pakri, which presently covers about 6.3 km. The authority also expects improved interchange performance once Khemnichak station — a junction point between Corridor I and Corridor II (Patna Junction to New ISBT) — becomes operational; PMRCL anticipates Khemnichak to open by the end of 2026.
| Item | 3‑coach train | 6‑coach train |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. passenger capacity | ~940 | ~1,800 |
| Source | Leased from Pune (mid‑2025) | Leased from Pune (expected Dec 2026) |
| Manufacturer | Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd | Titagarh Rail Systems Ltd |
Practical effects and local considerations
For daily commuters and residents near the operational corridor, the larger rakes should reduce peak overcrowding and improve throughput, particularly during office hours and market movements. Leasing existing rakes also shortens lead time compared with commissioning new manufacturing orders, which can take years. PMRCL's approach mirrors pragmatic choices taken by other emerging metro cities where interoperability of standard systems allows fleet sharing or short‑term leases.
However, the lease is an interim solution. Long‑term expansion of services will still require additional procurement, depot capacity for maintenance of longer trains and revision of timetables and signalling to handle longer rakes. The corporation will also need to assess platform lengths at stations and make any necessary civil adjustments on stretches where platforms were originally built for 3‑coach sets.
PMRCL's immediate priority, according to project briefs made available earlier, remains to extend service reach, increase train frequency and complete interchange stations that enable network connectivity. The arrival of the three 6‑coach trains by December 2026 is a step towards those operational goals and is expected to provide relief to commuters on the Red Line while broader procurement and construction continue.
Further official details on the lease terms, deployment schedule and any required local infrastructure changes are awaited from Patna Metro Rail Corporation Ltd.
