Whereas, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 3 of section 1 of the Metro Railways

## Report on Amendment to Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978 **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes an amendment to the Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, specifically related to the Patna Metro Rail Project. The amendment, detailed in Notification S.O. 4020(E), dated August 25, 2022, adds the metro alignments of Corridor I and Corridor II in the Patna Municipal Corporation and Danapur Nagar Parishad area to the Schedule of the Act. This amendment is crucial for facilitating the construction and operation of the Patna Metro by extending the Act's provisions to these specific routes. **2. Introduction:** The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of the amendment to the Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, as outlined in Notification S.O. 4020(E), with a focus on its implications for the Patna Metro Rail Project. This analysis is based solely on the information provided in the policy text. **3. Policy Overview:** * **Original Policy:** Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978. * **Core Objective(s) (inferred from text):** To facilitate the construction and operation of metro railway systems in India, as evidenced by the extension of the Act’s provisions to new areas and the inclusion of specific metro alignments within its Schedule. The Act allows the Central Government to extend its power to specific municipal areas to allow for effective construction works in those areas. **4. Background and Rationale:** The Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, already covers the Patna Municipal Corporation and Danapur Nagar Parishad area due to notification S.O. 755(E) dated 17th February 2022. This amendment likely addresses the need to clearly define the specific metro alignments within these areas to which the Act applies. It allows for the smooth implementation of metro projects by specifying the areas under the Act's domain, which may be related to land acquisition, construction permissions, or other regulatory requirements that are necessary for the project. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This document serves as an amendment, specifically focusing on changes to the schedule of the original Act. * **Specific Part of Original Policy Changed:** The Schedule of the Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, is being amended. * **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment adds the following metro alignments for Patna Metro Rail Project Corridor I and Corridor II in respect of Patna Municipal Corporation and Danapur Nagar Parishad area to the Schedule of the said Act: * **Corridor I:** Danapur-Saguna More-RPS More-Patliputra-Rukanpura-Raja Bazar-Patna Zoo-Vikas Bhawan-Vidyut Bhawan-Patna Station-Mithapur-Ramkrishna Nagar-Jaganpura-Khemmi Chak. * **Corridor II:** Patna Station-Akashvani-Gandhi Maidan-PMCH-University-Moin UL Haq Stadium-Rajendra Nagar-Malahi Pakri-Khemmi Chak-Bhootnath-Zero mile-New ISBT. * **Common Depot:** New ISBT Depot for Corridor I and II. * **Difference/Effect of the Change:** The amendment explicitly defines the geographic scope of the Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, for the Patna Metro project. This clarification likely streamlines the regulatory processes within the defined corridors, facilitating land acquisition, construction approvals, and other necessary procedures, and helps clarify the applicability of the Act to the said construction. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by this amendment include: * The Patna Metro Rail Corporation. * Residents and businesses located along the specified metro alignments in Patna Municipal Corporation and Danapur Nagar Parishad. * Construction companies involved in the Patna Metro project. * Government agencies responsible for land acquisition and project approvals. **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** The Central Government, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Patna Metro Rail Corporation. JAIDEEP, OSDUT and ExOfficio Jt. Secy. is involved with the notification. * **Timelines/Procedures:** The notification is effective from August 25, 2022. The text does not specify the procedure. * **Amendment-Specific Implementation:** The implementation of this amendment requires disseminating the information about the updated metro alignments to relevant stakeholders. This includes providing detailed maps and specifications to land acquisition agencies, construction companies, and local residents. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcomes of these specific changes introduced by the amendment are: * **Accelerated Project Implementation:** By clearly defining the project's scope within the specified areas, the amendment streamlines regulatory processes, potentially accelerating project implementation. * **Reduced Legal Ambiguity:** Specifying the exact corridors minimizes potential disputes regarding land acquisition and construction permits. * **Improved Stakeholder Coordination:** A clear definition of the project's scope facilitates better communication and coordination among all stakeholders. **9. Conclusion:** The amendment to the Metro Railways Construction of Works Act, 1978, as detailed in Notification S.O. 4020(E), is a significant step toward facilitating the development of the Patna Metro Rail Project. By specifically defining the metro alignments for Corridor I and Corridor II, the amendment streamlines regulatory processes and clarifies the Act's applicability to the specified areas. This clarity is likely to lead to accelerated project implementation and improved coordination among stakeholders, further bolstering metro construction projects.

Key Entities Referenced