A final review regarding introducing skyTran in the state will take place on Wednesday, following which it would be sent to the cabinet for approval.

The system is a network of computer-controlled pods, which employs state-of-the-art magnetic levitation technology and moves passengers in a fast, safe, and economical manner.

"The project's final review is expected to take place on Wednesday after which it will be sent to the cabinet for an approval. It has been decided that in the first phase, skyTrans will operate from Patna to Rajgir and Patna to Bodhgaya," urban development and housing minister Maheshwar Hazari told The Telegraph. While the distance between Rajgir and Patna is 85km, Bodhgaya is around 115km from Patna.

On April 4, Chennai-based Night Shade Global Infra Private Limited (NGIPL), which is Sky Tran's authorised company for India and South Asia, had given a technological demonstration of the transport system that has been developed by Nasa.

The system can be an effective mode of transport for Bihar, which has problems when it comes to land acquisition. The pods are run at a height of 6m from the ground with the help of steel poles and magnetic levitation at a speed of 140 to 160km per hour, with minimum electricity use.

Maheshwar did not mention the project's estimated cost but said a training centre would be set up in the state for the same.

"The training centre will be set up at a cost of Rs 135 crore. People will be trained towards operating and learning the entire system," the minister said. "NGIPL will also help us in the same. The second phase of the project involves extending the system to the entire state. One skyTran is capable of carrying four persons at a time. We have decided to implement the project as we found it interesting and viable."

Residents were however not much impressed with the development.

Boring Road resident Anmol Kumar Gupta said: "The very basic traffic system in Patna is faulty with no one following rules and cops not knowing what to do. The basic construction work of the Metro project has yet not started. I don't want to live in a fool's paradise."

Even before the state government had given its final nod for the project in February this year, the department had planned various aspects of the project, including its proposed corridors. The total cost of the Patna Metro project, which is now awaiting an approval from the Centre, rests at Rs 16,960 crore.

"Patna Metro is one of our most prized projects. I will go to Delhi later this week and meet Union urban development minister Venkaiah Naidu for the same. The state government will request the Centre for an approval so that work on the project can be started. We hope to get an approval very soon," Hazari added.