Bihar Urban Development Minister Nitin Naveen announced that the first phase of the Patna Metro Project is slated for completion by 2025. This phase will see the metro operating between Malahi Pakadi and the Bus Stand in Patna. The project funding is a joint effort: 20% from the Bihar government, 20% from the central government, and the remaining 60% from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the minister said. Naveen also noted that the second and third phases of the project are advancing rapidly and will be completed soon. He highlighted that JICA's approval has significantly accelerated the project. The minister affirmed the state government's commitment to providing metro facilities to the public as quickly as possible. He added that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) is being prepared for the metro's expansion to other cities in Bihar. While acknowledging some technical challenges in meeting the 2025 deadline, Naveen assured that efforts are underway to address these issues. He also addressed concerns about departmental tenders, stating that no major tender scams have occurred under his department but that a review is in progress to ensure transparency. Any irregularities found during the review will be dealt with strictly, he said. (Source: ET)