Construction of tunnel between museums will start from December 20
Patna: The stage is set for the construction of a world heritage tunnel or metro to connect the old Patna Museum with the new Bihar Museum. Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been selected as the agency for the tunneling work of the ambitious project, which will showcase the art, culture and heritage of Bihar.
Work on the 1.5 km long tunnel passing through Patna Museum, Vidyapati Marg, Taramandal Junction, Income Tax Roundabout, Patna Women’s College and Bihar Museum will begin from December 20 this year.
Officials at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, the nodal agency for the project, say demolition of the concrete structure, the diaphragm wall (D-wall) into the shaft, to encase the tunnel area will begin by the end of January 2024.
“The tender was awarded to L&T about a week ago to build a unique heritage tunnel between two museums in the city and the initial work will begin from December 20. Two wells will be constructed, one each at the Patna Museum and the new Bihar Museum. In these boreholes, the D-wall will be lowered, after which the Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) will be put into use,” officials told TOI on Saturday.
Tunnel boring machine is an integral part of the project, which creates tunnels by digging in the earth and helps in creating the underground network for the metro. The tunnel will be built using the latest technology and will ensure the safety of the visitors. The width of the tunnel will be 8 meters and a tunnel digging machine will be used at a depth of 16.5 meters.
Officials said the metro tunnel will run 15-20 meters below ground level and the Patna Metro Rail tunnel will pass at a depth of 29 meters at the crossing point. There will be a vertical clearance of about 6.5 meters between the metro tunnel and the Patna Metro Rail tunnel at the crossing point below Bailey Road. Issue of joint tickets and seamless passage through the metro system are also planned.
There will be a G+1 structure with a three-level basement with security checkpoints at the entry and exit points. The tunnel will be air-conditioned and will have two lifts at both ends, stairs and a walkway for those wishing to walk. Battery operated golf carts have also been planned to facilitate the movement of visitors in an easy and eco-friendly manner. Other features of the tunnel include fire safety measures, CCTV cameras, lighting, LED screens and drainage system.
According to the detailed project report, the tunnel will be an art gallery in itself and people will get a glimpse of the state’s culture through artworks like murals and paintings (including Madhubani paintings), among other artefacts, that will decorate the walls. Of the tunnel.
The project is expected to be completed in three years using funds of Rs 542 million. It was conceived in August 2019 following the instructions of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
