Patliputra Junction. Telegraph picture

Patliputra Junction, the third major railway terminal of Patna, would become functional from October 31 after missing three deadlines. Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge would inaugurate it.

Constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore, the terminal would reduce the load on Patna Junction and Rajendra Nagar Terminus and prove a boon for people travelling to Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

“Thank God that Patliputra Junction is finally opening. It will save my time and money and save me from visiting Patna Junction,” said Ankit Kumar, a resident of Ashiana.

A senior East Central Railway official said: “Apart from railway minister, chief minister Nitish Kumar and Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar would preside over the function. The date has been finalised through verbal communication. Any written material has not come so far.”

The junction was scheduled for opening in April this year, then on August 15 and last on September 6. The last inauguration date was cancelled at the eleventh hour after minister of state for railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury failed to turn up.

Talking about the failed deadlines, the official added: “The date is always finalised by higher-ups in Delhi. We are just informed about it and we make arrangements accordingly. This time also, we have been informed about the inauguration date and the chief guest.”

The railway station has remained unused owing to delay in installation of facilities. It was not being used for passenger services even though the commissioner of railway safety gave the green light to run the trains in November, 2012.

Located 12km northwest of Patna Junction, Paltiputra Junction can help ease the pressure on the other two terminals through which around 350 trains pass daily.

The station would also be used as a halt for trains that end up taking up space at Patna Junction.