Patna, Oct 24 (IANS): The Patna Metro rail will be developed on the public-private partnership (PPP) model, Urban Development Minister Samrat Choudhary said Friday.

"In view of high cost, we have decided to opt for PPP model to implement the Patna Metro project," Choudhary said.

According to officials, the project cost has been reduced to Rs.15,000 crore from Rs.17,000 crore estimated earlier.

The Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) is likely to submit a detailed project report (DPR) by Oct 31 to the state government.

Choudhary said his ministry will start the process to invite tenders for implementing the project.

He said that initially the Metro rail will be run on two routes in the city.

A Patna Metro Rail Corporation on the lines of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will be formed for monitoring the construction, he added.

An interim report on the project would be sent to the union urban development ministry soon for approval, the minister said.

Patna is home to more than two million people, and congestion is a serious problem in the city's overcrowded lanes.