Ahead of coming Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh this year, Public Investment Board (PIB) of Ministry of Finance has approved Rs 13, 359 crore for metro projects in Bhopal and Indore. After PIB clearance, the projects will go to the Union Cabinet. The idea of setting up metro rails in Bhopal and Indore was conceived in 2009. This is the first metro proposals, approved after the implementation of new Metro Rail policy.
Top sources said PIB has approved Rs 6,962 crore for Bhopal metro while Rs 6,397 crore for Indore metro. In the first phase, 27.87 km would be covered in Bhopal while 31.55 km would be covered in Indore. These two metro rail projects will impact at least three dozen Assembly seats in the State. There will be 30 stations each in both these metro line. The per km expenses is expected to be between Rs 182-200 crore.
Sources further stated that during the PIB meeting, some members have suggested that metro would not be viable for these two States and the State Government should consider for light rail transport system but the same was rejected. After PIB clearance, the projects will go to the Union cabinet. The Madhya Pradesh Government had already appointed consultants for the two metro projects. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan Government plans to expedite construction of the projects in the State's capital and business hub in the backdrop of Assembly elections this year.
The Indore Metro system will be a rapid transit system and the metro will provide free Wi-Fi connectivity for the commuters. The Project will not only run on road bridges and in some underground location. The project will be the first driver less trains in India. The project is set to be completed before 2020.
The Madhya Pradesh cabinet approved the detailed project reports of the Bhopal and Indore metro rails in December 2016 at a cost of Rs 14,485.55 crore. The Indore metro corridor will cover Palasia, Rajwara, Bada Ganpati, Airport, Bhawarsala, MR10, Vijay Nagar, Radisson and Bangali Chouraha in the phase-I while the one corridor of the Bhopal metro will cover 14.99 km connecting Karond Square, Bhopal Talkies, Railway Station, Bharat Talkies, Bogda Pul, Shubhash Nagar underpass, DB Mall, Board Office Square, Habib Gang, Naka, Alkapuri Bus Stand and AIIMS.
The second corridor of metro will cover 12.88 km stretch connecting Depot Square, Jawahar Chowk, Roshanpura Square, Minto Hall, Lily Talkies, Jinsi Depot, Bogda Pul, Prabhat Square, Apsara Talkies, Govind Industries Area, J.K.Road and Ratnagiri Tiraha. According to sources, Bhopal and Indore metros will be both elevated and underground.
As per plan, the proposed length of entire Indore metro project is 104.25 km and the estimated cost is Rs 26,762 crore while the length of the Bhopal metro is 95.03 km and the estimated cost is Rs 22,504 crore.