Bhopal Metro running late, may miss July launch date
Bhopal: In Madhya Pradesh, while Indore Metro is set for its launch on May 31, marking a significant advancement in urban transportation, Bhopal Metro continues to face setbacks with incomplete infrastructure work, creating uncertainty about its operational timeline.
Despite simultaneous project initiation, Indore has successfully obtained necessary approvals for its five-station Super Priority Corridor, featuring modern amenities like automatic fare collection and QR-based ticketing. Meanwhile, Bhopal's project remains incomplete, awaiting crucial safety inspections and struggling with final construction phases.
The priority corridor from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS Bhopal, spanning 7.2 km and comprising 43% of the Orange Line, stands at 81.26% completion, as of April 3, according to Union ministry of housing and urban affairs.
The remaining work includes metro station infrastructure, depot facilities and operational command buildings, presenting significant challenges.
Following Indore's experience, Bhopal Metro still requires clearances from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) and the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), with inspection dates undetermined. Indore's clearance process took approximately eight weeks.
The anticipated July launch for Bhopal Metro's passenger service seems unattainable, with officials suggesting a potential start date after the monsoon season.
The project's progress stands in stark contrast to Nagpur Metro, which completed its 39.38 km Phase 1 in five years. Bhopal's metro construction has extended beyond six years, following administrative delays. The project cost has increased by 30% from the initial estimate of Rs 6,941 crore.
Additional challenges include adverse weather conditions, financial limitations and planning issues. With only eight metro stations planned for the initial launch and minimal progress on the 16 km Orange Line, a comprehensive metro network in Bhopal remains a distant prospect. As Indore progresses with its metro implementation, Bhopal residents await clarity on their city's metro development timeline.
Where MP Stands In Metro Race
Madhya Pradesh's metro expansion is making steady progress, but its financial backing remains significantly lower compared to major metro projects across India
In 2024-25, the Govt of India allocated Rs 47,710 crore for metro development nationwide, with Madhya Pradesh receiving Rs 505.81 crore—just 1.06% of the total funding. This means for every Rs 94 spent on metro projects across the country, MP got Rs 1
Funding for metro projects in Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai is several times higher than MP's, reflecting their larger networks and ongoing expansions. For example, Delhi Metro alone received Rs 4,048.67 crore, nearly eight times MP's total allocation
Indore Metro is set to become Madhya Pradesh's first operational metro service, launching its 5.9 km priority corridor on May 31, 2025. Meanwhile, Bhopal Metro's priority section (7.2 km) is 81.26% complete but still awaiting approvals, delaying its start
Despite its slow growth, MP's metro projects—especially Bhopal and Indore—remain vital for urban mobility. However, with significantly less funding compared to metro systems in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, MP's metro expansion will likely progress at a much slower pace
Metro network: MP vs Rest of India
India has 1,011.48 km of operational metro track, with MP's Indore Metro adding 5.9 km, accounting for 0.58% of the country's active metro network. Nationally, 979.462 km of metro lines are under construction, with MP's Bhopal (27.87 km) and Indore (31.55 km) metros making up 6.07% of the total under-construction metro expansion
MP gets only 1.06% of total Metro funding in 2024-25
Between 2021-22 and 2024-25, the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL) received funding from the central govt for both Bhopal and Indore Metro projects. MP received only 1.06% of India's total metro funding, with Bhopal (0.45%) and Indore (0.61%) making up a small fraction of the national budget. Funding per km for MP's metros is significantly lower compared to major cities like Chennai (Rs 46.72 crore/km), Surat (Rs 56.13 crore/km), and Ahmedabad (Rs 136.46 crore/km)
Bhopal Metro Funding
Rs 527.23 crore (2021-22)
Rs 217.54 crore (2022-23)
Rs 613 crore (2023-24)
Rs 215.81 crore (allocated for 2024-25)
Rs 215.81 crore (released in 2024-25 till March 25)
Indore Metro Funding
Rs 250.63 crore (2021-22)
Rs 260 crore (2022-23)
Rs 1,105.74 crore (2023-24)
Rs 290 crore (allocated for 2024-25)
Rs 290 crore (released in 2024-25 till March 25)
Source: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
MP's share lower than other cities
MP received only 1.06% of India's total metro funding, with Bhopal (0.45%) and Indore (0.61%) making up a small fraction of the national budget. Funding per km for MP's metros is significantly lower compared to major cities like Chennai (Rs 46.72 crore/km), Surat (Rs 56.13 crore/km), and Ahmedabad (Rs 136.46 crore/km)
State/UT
City
Under-Construction Length (km)
Funds Allocated (₹ in crore, 2024-25)
Funds per km (₹ in crore/km)
Percentage of Total Metro Funding (%)
Delhi & NCR
Delhi
138.56
4,048.67
29.22
8.49%
Karnataka
Bangalore
140.28
4,814.58
34.33
10.09%
West Bengal
Kolkata
73.87
906
12.27
1.90%
Tamil Nadu
Chennai
118.9
5,554.15
46.72
11.64%
Kerala
Kochi
11.2
140.8
12.57
0.29%
Uttar Pradesh
Kanpur
23.657
262.25
11.09
0.55%
Uttar Pradesh
Agra
24.1
387
16.06
0.81%
Maharashtra
Mumbai
176.05
4,484.58
25.48
9.40%
Maharashtra
Nagpur
43.8
0
0
0.00%
Maharashtra
Pune
33.133
962.02
29.05
2.02%
Maharashtra
Thane
29
50
1.72
0.10%
Gujarat
Ahmedabad
7.48
1,020.72
136.46
2.14%
Gujarat
Surat
40.35
2,264.00
56.13
4.75%
Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal
27.87
215.81
7.74
0.45%
Madhya Pradesh
Indore
31.55
290
9.19
0.61%
Bihar
Patna
32.507
164.37
5.06
0.34%
TOTAL
India
979.462 km
47,710.00 crore
48.69
100%
Source: Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (Lok Sabha Question) , March 2025
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