THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has signed loan agreements with the government of India in Delhi to provide Japanese ODA loans worth Yen 426.8bn ($US 3.22bn) for four projects, including a Yen 98.6bn loan for the Patna Metro Rail Project.

The project will reduce congestion in Patna, the capital of Bihar state, through the construction of the metro lines 1 and 2, which are due to be completed by December 2028.

The loan agreement was signed by Mr Rajat Kumar Mishra, additional secretary, department of external affairs, with India’s Ministry of Finance, and ambassador of Japan to India, Mr Suzuki Hiroshi.

Jica will appoint consultants for the project by June. The initial procurement package for international competitive bidding on project construction will also be launched in June.

The loan amount has a repayment period of 30 years with a 10-year grace period.

The 14km Line 2 will connect Patna Railway Junction with New Inter State Bus Terminal, with 12 stations. The north-south line includes a 6km elevated section with five stations and an 8km underground section with seven stations.

The 16.86km east-west Line 1 will run from Danapur Cantonment to Khemni Chak. It will comprise 9.36km elevated with eight stations and 7.5km underground with six stations.

The project is estimated to cost $US 1.7bn and is expected to be commissioned by 2028. Jica also signed a loan agreement for the Mumbai - Ahmedabad high-speed line, which will receive Yen 300bn.

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