Centre clears underground metro project for Indore:Khajrana–Airport stretch to go below ground; 7 stations planned on 8.7 km route

Madhya Pradesh has received a major boost in metro and urban development. The Centre has approved an underground metro corridor in Indore, while several large projects linked to the Bhopal Metro and metropolitan expansion were launched in the state capital. Centre approves Indore underground metro Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar announced that the Central Government has cleared the underground metro project in Indore. The approval was announced on Saturday at the Kushabhau Thackeray Convention Centre in Bhopal. The metro corridor from Khajrana to the airport will run underground. Around 7 underground stations will be built on this 8.7 km stretch. Bhopal Metropolitan Area map launched At the same event, the official map of the Bhopal Metropolitan Area was released. Along with this, bhoomipujan and inauguration of 262 development projects were carried out with a single click. The total cost of these projects is Rs 5,800 crore. CM calls it a historic moment Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said the start of metro services in Bhopal is a historic step. He said that after Indore, Bhopal has also received the gift of metro rail.He added that approval for the Indore underground metro was granted on the same day. During the programme, the Chief Minister presented a metro model as a memento to Union Minister Khattar. Area and scope of Bhopal Metropolitan Region The Bhopal Metropolitan Area will include Bhopal along with Raisen, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Sehore and Narmadapuram districts.It will cover 12 urban bodies, 30 tehsils and 2,524 villages. The total area will be around 12,099 sq km. To manage this, a Metropolitan Area Development Authority will be formed. Mandideep, Govindpura Industrial Area, Bhopal IT Park, Ashta Agro Processing Zone and Mohasa Industrial Area will also be part of it. The government estimates that about 10 lakh jobs will be created. Rail and road projects get a push The Chief Minister said the Indore–Manmad rail line has been approved at a cost of Rs 18,500 crore. He also said the state will benefit from the Ujjain–Jaora Greenfield Highway and the Agra–Gwalior High-Speed Corridor. PM’s message on metro expansion Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a recorded message for the Bhopal Metro inauguration. He said the government wants Madhya Pradesh to reach new heights of development. He said that after the formation of the double-engine government, the pace of development has doubled. In 2014, metro services existed in only four cities. Today, more than two dozen cities have metro networks spanning over 1,000 km. India is now the country with the third-largest metro network in the world. With the inauguration of the 7 km metro section in Bhopal, urban development has gained new momentum. Khattar highlights development potential Union Minister Khattar congratulated the state on the launch of the first phase of the 30 km Bhopal Metro project.He said the creation of the metropolitan area will open new opportunities for growth. He added that districts surrounding Bhopal will also benefit by becoming part of the metropolitan region.