There could be around 25 stations for the proposed Metro service in Patna, according to preliminary findings of a feasibility study.

Rail India Technical and Economic Services (Rites) is, at present, preparing a detailed project report, which will be submitted to the government by December this year.

Speaking on the sidelines of a conference — Patna Traffic Management — organised by the Indian Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Abhay Negi, the deputy general manager of the urban transport department of Rites, said the Metro train line would go from Patna City to Danapur, covering a stretch of 30km and touching all important places in the state capital.

“The Metro will touch important places like Bypass, the secretariat, Patna Junction and Danapur. The stretch of 30km is expected to have at least 25 stations, at a distance of 4-5km from each other,” said Negi, adding that the city transport system would be close to other mode of conveyance so that it is convenient for commuters to use it.

In Calcutta — the oldest Metro service in the country — the north-south route has 24 stations on a 28km stretch, touching all important places. Delhi has a number of criss-crossing routes but the longest is the blue line, covering 47.2km from Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida City Centre.

It has 44 stations, including Rajiv Chowk at Connaught Place — the largest hub of business and entertainment in the national capital.

Following the examples of the metropolitan cities, Patna, too, could soon have a Metro service to make life easier for commuters.

On June 17 this year, a memorandum of understanding for the feasibility study and preparation of a detailed project report for the service was signed between Arbind Kumar, director (projects) of Rites and S. Siddharth, secretary, urban development and housing department.

Officials at the department said the Rites had already started the feasibility study according to the agreement.

It would be submitted by the agency by September this year.

The scope of work includes an assessment of the demand for the mode of transport, topographic survey for the entire stretch of 30km, carrying out soil investigations at intervals of 500m, identifying station locations and development of a preliminary concept plan.