Passengers to reach next station in 3 minutes:Union Minister CM to flag off, 17 trips a day, fares start at ₹20; all you need to know about Bhopal Metro

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, is set to become a metro city on December 20. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the metro and take a ride on the 6.22-km stretch to review the project. From 9 AM on December 21, metro services will open for the general public. The metro will operate 17 trips daily between Subhash Nagar and AIIMS, covering the distance between stations in about 3 minutes. The minimum fare is Rs 20. This report explains station-wise availability, passenger entry procedures, distance between stations, total travel time, and emergency contact details of metro management. 8 stations on 6.22 km corridor, services begin at 9 AM Fares in 3 zones, maximum Rs 40 and no discount From boarding to exit: How to travel by metro? How will passengers enter the metro train? After buying a ticket, passengers will reach the platform. About 10 seconds after the metro arrives, the platform screen doors and train doors open together. An announcement will ask passengers to keep a safe distance as the gates open. What is the seating capacity? The metro’s total capacity is 980 passengers. Each coach can carry around 330 passengers, but only 50 can be seated. There are 6 facing seats in one coach—some for 5 passengers, some for 7—while about 280 passengers travel standing. Metro MD Chaitanya said 250 passengers can travel comfortably in one coach. What is the distance from one station to another? The metro runs on the 6.22 km priority corridor between Subhash Nagar and AIIMS, covering 8 stations. From AIIMS, the first station Alkapuri is reached in 3 minutes. The metro takes 2–3 minutes to travel between each station. What will be the total travel time? The total journey time from AIIMS to Subhash Nagar is about 40 minutes. The train takes 2–3 minutes between stations and halts for 2 minutes at each station for boarding and deboarding. How to contact metro management in an emergency? There will be no onboard staff and passengers cannot access the driver directly. In an emergency, passengers can press the emergency intercom button to speak to the driver, who will alert the next station so the emergency team is ready before arrival. Currently, the metro will run with a driver, though plans exist for driverless operations in the future. Which stations are you travelling between? Passengers will receive station information through two digital displays. After departure, the route details appear first. As the train approaches the next station, its name and the time taken between stations are displayed. How to exit at the destination station? On arrival, passengers will first see total travel time, followed by an announcement naming the station. For example, on reaching DB Mall, an announcement will instruct passengers to move away from the gates before the doors open towards the platform. How will disabled passengers travel? The first and last coaches have dedicated wheelchair spaces. Nearby is a ‘Long Stop Request Button’, which disabled passengers can press to request the doors remain open longer, allowing them to exit comfortably. Special features of Bhopal Metro 1. All coaches are stainless steel, rust-free Metro coaches have a white-and-orange design and are made of stainless steel, making them rust-proof. The first and third coaches act as driving coaches, while the middle one is a trailer. The metro will run with drivers for now, with scope for driverless operations in the future. 2. One train has three coaches A total of 81 coaches will arrive in Bhopal, forming 27 trains; 8 trains have arrived so far. The metro will operate on two routes—AIIMS–Karond and Bhadbhada–Ratnagiri. 3. Face-to-face seating and automatic doors Coaches have long face-to-face seats with seating for over 45 passengers. Doors are automatic. Around 350 passengers can travel per train, with over 300 standing comfortably. Mobile charging points are available inside coaches. 4. One train is 67 meters long Three connected coaches form a 67-meter-long train. Trains reverse direction from the last coach, so both front and rear coaches function as driving units. 5. Separate software for doors, brakes, and AC The doors, braking system, and air-conditioning operate on different software systems for controlled and safe operations. 6. Largely automatic operations Speed and distance will be increased gradually while addressing operational issues. Coaches feature digital route maps and LED TVs for news and entertainment. The current maximum speed is 40 kmph, though trial runs up to 100 kmph have already been conducted. 7. Braille tiles and full accessibility Trains are air-conditioned and pollution-free, with a capacity of about 980 passengers per train. Stations have lifts, escalators, Braille script, tactile tiles, CCTV, and fire-fighting systems. Emergency buttons, intercoms, and audio announcements support passenger safety and visually impaired users. Bhopal Metro fare higher than many cities While metro services operate in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Lucknow, Jaipur, and others, Bhopal’s minimum fare is ₹20, higher than cities where fares start at ₹10, ₹11, or ₹15. Public services begin December 21. Metro work began in 2018 The first route, AIIMS–Karond (16.05 km), includes a 6.22-km priority corridor between AIIMS and Subhash Nagar, work on which began in 2018. Construction from Subhash Nagar to Rani Kamlapati is complete; remaining work at Alkapuri, AIIMS, and DRM stations is nearing completion. Two steel bridges have been built over railway tracks. First trial run two years ago Bhopal Metro’s first trial took place on October 3, 2023, when then Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan traveled from Subhash Nagar to Rani Kamlapati Station.