Jharkhand Fast-Tracks Metro Rail Plans for Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur

State seeks central approval and funding as feasibility studies begin; Ranchi Metro’s first phase to span 16.2 km with 27 stations.

New Delhi: 15 July 2025

Metro Rail Project Gains Momentum in Jharkhand; Proposal Sent for Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur
The Jharkhand government is accelerating efforts to introduce a metro rail network in its major urban hubs Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Jamshedpur to tackle increasing congestion and support sustainable urban development. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has received a formal proposal requesting central assistance for feasibility studies and alignment studies, which would inform a Detailed Project Report (DPR), one of the prerequisites before construction can begin.

Chief Minister Hemant Soren stressed the necessity for metro connectivity and requested Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s support at the Eastern Zonal Council meeting held on 23 April 2023.

Sustainable Urban Mobility Vision

The metro system is intended to alleviate increasing traffic congestion, mitigate rising vehicular emissions, and offer sustainable, affordable, and safe transportation alternatives. The proposed network is anticipated to create economic activity, jobs, and promote healthier urban living.

The first phase of the metro plan, which includes a 16.2-km stretch, that proposes 27 stations in Ranchi will become at least two metro corridors over time. For now, the proposal has been approved previously, notwithstanding, fieldwork will take place once the DPR has been completed and funding is allocated in next year’s budget. Experts believe this will require seven to eight years of post-construction to be fully realized.
Motivated by Tier-2 Success Stories
The state is also planning to implement a Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model that promotes neighborhoods of high density, mixed-use focused on connectivity with the metro. The successful implementation of metro systems in Patna and Bhubaneswar shows that this is viable for Tier-2 cities.
The state’s proposal follows the Metro Rail Policy 2017, and Jharkhand has committed to fulfilling all public-private partnership (PPP) and value capture financing (VCF) requirements to establish a modern, inclusive, and sustainable metro network.