PATNA, June 1 -- The Patna Metro project, long promised as a game-changer for Bihar's capital, continues to navigate a common land acquisition issue that is holding up construction of four critical stations even as tunnelling and construction push forward beneath the city's crowded streets. According to a deputy general manager rank officer of the Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), district authorities offered them the required proportion of land for construction of stations at Raja Bazar, Rukanpura, Patna Junction and Khemnichak, but land acquisition process is yet to come full circle. "The claims of compensation for the land parcel at these stations have not been settled yet," said the officer. At Raja Bazar station, authorities require 0.52 acres, much of it agricultural land belonging to the agriculture department. Only two applications have come forward so far. The department has formally requested a change in land allotment from the PMRC, but the proposal is yet to be acted upon. Rukanpura station (Part-1) has seen better movement, with 0.90 acres already acquired and 90% compensation disbursed. However, further portions remain in process. At Patna Junction (part-2), 0.35 acres need to be secured, with four claimants submitting applications for compensation and document verification underway. For Khemnichak station, a notice has been issued for compensation on just 0.04 acres, but affected parties have not yet responded with applications. During a project monitoring meeting on May 26, Patna district magistrate Thiyagarajan S M, along with the district land acquisition officer Om Prakash, directed officials to ensure 100% payment of compensation without delay. A related court matter involving Khesra No. 1200 at Khemnichak is still pending, with the court ordering the status quo to be maintained. The DM said the necessary proportion of land has been provided to the PMRC for the civil work. "As far as the dispute in the title of land is concerned, the authority has been directed to pay the compensation to the bonafide landowners after settlement of the title by the court," said Thiyagarajan. Notwithstanding the issues in offering the compensation for the land acquired, underground progress tells a different story. Construction is actively underway at Raja Bazar, Rukanpura, Patna Junction and Khemnichak stations as part of the ambitious underground segments of the network. "Tunnel boring machines are carving paths through the city's challenging geology, with significant excavation already completed in several stretches," said a PMRC officer requesting anonymity. The phase 1 of the Patna Metro envisions a mix of elevated and underground corridors totaling around 32 km. The elevated priority section between Bhootnath and Malahi Pakri has seen trial runs and safety inspections, with hopes of limited passenger services later this year. The underground Blue Line (North-South corridor) from Patna Junction towards the new ISBT is targeted for substantial completion by the end of 2026 Officials acknowledge that land-related delays have slowed things in the past, but recent high-level reviews by the Bihar government have emphasised faster resolution. The project, executed with technical support from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), remains crucial for connecting key areas - from Danapur in the west to eastern parts of the city - and easing the burden on overburdened roads. The district administration's latest drive to clear full compensation and ensure smoother coordination offers some hope. As one senior official noted in recent meetings, the focus now is on clearing the final hurdles so that visible progress above ground can match the steady rumble of tunnelling below. In a city where history runs deep and aspirations run high, the Patna Metro's next chapter will be written one acre - and one resolved claim - at a time. The land acquisition remains a nagging issue for execution of the 2nd phase of metro rail network. The PMRC officer claimed that the district administration has acquired about 0.14 acre plot for building Jaganpura station, including 0.12 acres of bakasht (cultivable) land under Khesra No. 1089. A proposal has been sent to the Phulwari Sharif circle officer and Patna Sadar DCLR to declare it government land, but the matter is still pending at the officials' level. "Similarly, at Ramkrishna Nagar, acquisition of 1.18 acres has been completed, though one compensation claim has triggered an ongoing hearing. The district authorities are hearing public objections to award the compensation to the tune of Rs.4.31 crore rupees, which has been deposited with the concerned authority. Notably, commuters have already been using a 3.45 km elevated track between Patliputra Bus Terminal and Bhootnath station. Operations on the 2.75 km stretch between Bhootnath and Malahi Pakri are set to begin soon, after which the full 6.2 km priority corridor will become functional. This will provide convenient boarding and alighting at Malahi Pakri, Bhootnath, Zero Mile and Patliputra Bus Terminal. The elevated priority section has already undergone trial runs and safety inspections by the commissioner of metro rail safety. The phase 1 of the Patna Metro, being developed by the PMRC with technical support from the DMRC, aims for roughly 32 km of network mixing elevated and underground lines. Once fully operational, it promises to connect Danapur in the west to eastern parts of the city, cutting through congested areas and easing the daily grind of buses, autos and two-wheelers on narrow roads. The urban development and housing department (UDHD), which is investing on the Patna metro project, has allocated a hefty sum of Rs.13,365 crore for the project, which is jointly funded by the central and state governments along with loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)....