The second phase of Bhopal Metro, which spans an 8.77 km route from Subhash Nagar to Karond, is facing significant delays due to ongoing challenges with the relocation of saw mills and encroachments along the route. The project, which is crucial for expanding the city’s metro network, has been stalled by 108 saw mills and encroachments from the Iranian camp.

The main hurdle in progressing this phase of the metro project is the shifting of the saw mills, which have been in place along the route from Barkhedi Gate to Bharat Talkies for almost five decades. Despite over 50 discussions and eight proposed relocation sites, the machines have not been moved.

A significant breakthrough came when 18 acres of land in Chhota Ratibad was allotted for their relocation, but the process is still pending. The Rs 16 crore plan for infrastructure development, including road, electricity, and water facilities at the new site, is yet to fully begin, as the detailed project report (DPR) has only recently been submitted for approval.

Tendering and construction work may take an additional 2-3 months. District Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh had set a target two and a half months ago for removing the saw mills within a month, but this deadline has passed without progress.

Recently, the district administration demolished 18 permanent shops blocking the route, which clears one obstacle for the metro’s construction. However, the removal of saw mills remains the primary impediment to moving forward.

Another challenge is the encroachment from the Iranian Dera along the route.

City SDM Deepak Pandey assured that steps are being taken to clear the encroachment. Plans are already in place for this work to proceed.

The second phase of the metro project, which will connect Subhash Nagar Depot to Karond, is estimated to cost Rs 1,540 crore. Soil testing, design work, and other preliminary tasks have been completed, but the project cannot proceed until the saw mills are shifted and the encroachments are cleared. Once these issues are resolved, civil works will begin, helping to move the metro expansion forward.