Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar approved the long-awaited proposal of Patna Metro Rail project on Tuesday while directing that it be sent for the central government's clearance, officials said.

He approved the proposal for the metro rail project at a meeting called to review the performance of the state urban development department here.

Bihar Urban Development Minister Maheshwar Hazari said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Patna Metro Rail project would be presented to the state cabinet for approval soon.

The Metro project is our priority. The state government is keen to speed up the process to begin construction as soon as possible.

The Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) last year submitted the DPR on the project to the Bihar government, reducing the project estimate to Rs.14,000 crore from Rs.17,000 crore estimated earlier.

An urban development department official said the Bihar government would now work to declare Patna a metropolis, as it would help speed up the Metro project, which initially would have two routes.

A corporation on the lines of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation would be formed for monitoring the construction of the project in Patna, he added. (IANS)(Picture Courtesy:newsmobile.in)