Bhopal Metro’s commercial run to begin on Dec 20:PM to attend event at Minto Hall virtually; CM, union ministers to take a ride from Subhash Nagar to AIIMS

The commercial run of Bhopal Metro’s priority corridor will now take place a day ahead of schedule, on December 20. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will join the event virtually to flag off the metro, while Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will ride the metro in person. The event, initially scheduled for December 21, will be held at Kushabhau Thakre International Convention Center (Minto Hall) at 4 PM. Following the virtual flag-off, ministers, MPs, MLAs, and other public representatives will board the metro, which will run from Subhash Nagar station to AIIMS station, covering a distance of 6.22 kilometers. Preparations and security arrangements Work to decorate both Subhash Nagar and AIIMS stations is underway, with tight security in place to ensure the safety of passengers and officials. Currently, no outsiders are being allowed entry into the stations. In addition to these two stations, heightened security measures have been deployed at Central School, DB Mall, MP Nagar, Rani Kamlapati, DRM Office, and Alkapuri. Internal work of the metro is complete, while pending external work will continue for the next 2 to 3 months. Officials have confirmed that these ongoing external works will not affect the commercial run. Union Minister and CM to address media Union Minister Khattar and Chief Minister Dr. Yadav will meet the media at AIIMS station to provide detailed information about the metro project and outline the roadmap ahead. Currently, three metro coaches are planned to operate initially along the 6.22-kilometer priority corridor, though the schedule and fare structure have not yet been officially released. Officials have indicated that the fare system is likely to follow the model adopted for the Indore Metro. See pictures.. CMRS approval secured Earlier this month, the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) team gave the green signal for the priority corridor. The CMRS team had arrived in Bhopal on November 12 and conducted a detailed inspection of the depot, track, and trains over 3 days, scrutinising every component from tracks to nuts and bolts. With CMRS approval in place, authorities are now awaiting the final flag-off to commence operations. Fares and initial discounts Although the Metro Corporation has not formally disclosed the fare structure, it is expected to adopt a system similar to Indore’s. Reports suggest that passengers will be able to travel free for the first seven days, followed by tiered discounts of 75%, 50%, and 25% over three months. After this promotional period, fares are expected to range from ₹20 for minimum travel to ₹80 for maximum travel. Metro speed and ticketing system Trial runs on the Subhash Nagar-AIIMS track are being conducted with speeds ranging from 30 km/h to 80 km/h, with intermittent stretches reaching up to 100–120 km/h. Unlike most modern metro systems, ticketing will remain manual, similar to railway operations. The manual ticketing system is being implemented after the removal of Turkish company Assis Guard, which was initially tasked with installing the automatic fare collection system. The tender process for a new contractor is ongoing and may take two to three months. Limited passenger facilities Passengers should note that none of the eight stations on the Orange Line will have parking facilities initially. Only pick-and-drop arrangements will be available. Metro officials are reportedly planning to build commercial outlets beneath the stations, which may allow for parking in the future. However, until then, passengers will need to make alternative arrangements for vehicle parking. Priority corridor and remaining work The first metro route in Bhopal, spanning 16.05 kilometers from AIIMS to Karond, has been under construction since 2018. The 6.22-kilometer Subhash Nagar-AIIMS section has been completed as a priority corridor. Other sections, including stretches from Subhash Nagar to RKMP station, have been completed, while minor work continues at Alkapuri, AIIMS, and DRM stations. Two steel bridges have also been constructed over the railway track to integrate the metro infrastructure. Previous trials The first trial of Bhopal Metro was conducted on October 3, 2023, when the metro ran on tracks for the first time. During that run, then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan traveled from Subhash Nagar to Rani Kamlapati station. Since then, extensive testing and trial runs have ensured operational readiness for the upcoming commercial launch. The upcoming inauguration of Bhopal Metro is expected to mark a significant milestone in the city’s public transport infrastructure. With security measures in place, ongoing trial runs, and fare and schedule details soon to be finalised, the city is set to experience the benefits of a modern, efficient metro system. Officials have assured residents that despite ongoing external works, metro services will commence as planned, providing a safer, faster, and more reliable mode of urban transport.