- First phase awaits final green light
- CMRS will inspect on 25 September
After years of anticipation, residents of Bhopal are on the brink of experiencing a new era of public transport. The first phase of the Bhopal Metro is on track for a potential launch in October, marking a significant milestone in the city’s infrastructure development. This initial stretch, the Orange Line, will connect Subhash Nagar to AIIMS, covering a distance of 7.5 kilometers with eight stations that will ease congestion in some of the city’s busiest areas.
= The final countdown: Safety inspection underway
The final hurdle before commercial operations begin is a critical safety inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS). A team is scheduled to conduct a detailed technical review on September 25. They will meticulously check everything from the signaling systems and track quality to emergency exits and passenger amenities. Officials are confident the inspection will be successful, paving the way for a likely inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
To welcome riders, the new service will offer special inaugural discounts for the first three months. Fares will be slashed by 75% in the first month, 50% in the second, and 25% in the third. Following this promotional period, ticket prices will be set at a competitive rate of Rs 20 to Rs 80, making the metro an affordable travel option for thousands of daily commuters. While final touches are being put on stations like AIIMS and DRM Office, a temporary manual ticketing system will be in place initially, with a fully automated system to follow.
