Don't expect work on the Patna Metro rail to start anytime soon. New Delhi has told the state that it will clear the project only after formulation of the new Metro policy, which is being finalised.

"The Centre has informed us that all the pending Metro projects, including the one meant for Patna, would be given clearance only after formulation of the revised metro policy which is likely to be in place in two months," said a senior urban development and housing department official.

Urban development minister Maheshwar Hazari had told The Telegraph on April 18 that the state would start the project on its own if the Centre's approval "does not come within three months".

However, the senior official at Hazari's department explained that Metro projects are guided by the Metro Railways (Amendment) Act, 2009, which clearly specifies the kind of clearances needed from the Centre before work on any Metro project in any state can start.

The official also pointed out that the safety certification of Metro projects is issued by the commissioner of railways safety, who works under railway ministry.

Bihar had sent the detailed project report (DPR) for New Delhi's approval in March 2016. It will now be assessed in the light of the proposed policy and, if required, the state would have to make changes and submit the proposal afresh, the official explained.

"As the DPR approval is a cumbersome process one can say that after formulation of the new metro policy, the approval would take at least another six months. Hence one could say that the Patna Metro project would not advance in the coming eight months," said the official.

Another senior department official corroborated that the state government cannot execute the project on its own.

The Patna Metro project was conceived in 2011, around the same time the Metro project in Lucknow was. The Lucknow Metro has already undergone a trial run last year and the project is likely roll this year. The Metro in Nagpur is also likely to be commissioned this year.

"Now, we can't expect any work on this project before 2018 which would lead to deferment of the deadline estimated cost of around Rs 17,000 crore too would have to be reassessed," said the second urban development official.