India to soon leave US behind in terms of Metro rail network length: Khattar

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Saturday asserted that India will soon surpass the US in terms of the length of the Metro rail network, which he said now carries 1.2 crore people across the country daily.

Currently, India is in the third position as far as the total length of Metro rail corridors is concerned, he said during a programme to inaugurate the 7-km first phase of the Bhopal Metro rail project.

“Bhopal has become the 26th city in the country to have Metro trains. In terms of the length of Metro lines, we rank third in the world with a network spanning 1,083 km. With the addition of today’s 7 km, it will become a 1,090-km network,” he said.

China tops the list, followed by the US, with a total Metro length of 1,400 km, said the Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs.  “With 900 km of Metro project in the pipeline, the country will surpass the US with the addition of 300 km soon,” Khattar said.

He and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav flagged off a train from Subhash Nagar station on the network’s ‘Priority Corridor’. The two also travelled on the train till the AIIMS station.

Khattar said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special affection for Madhya Pradesh, as he chose to spend his birthday (September 17) in the state.  In Bhopal and Indore, the Union Minister said, Metro projects are progressing well. In Indore, a dispute arose over whether to keep a particular section elevated or underground, he said.

The Bhopal Metro corridor will ensure smooth traffic on the city’s busy roads and help reduce pollution. The mass transit system will also make travel easier for citizens, Khattar said. The estimated cost of the Bhopal Metro is Rs 10,033 crore, with the Priority Corridor costing Rs 2,225 crore. This 7-km stretch is expected to carry 3,000 passengers daily, according to officials.

The estimated cost of the Bhopal Metro is Rs 10,033 crore, with the Priority Corridor costing Rs 2,225 crore. This 7-km stretch is expected to carry 3,000 passengers daily, an official said.  Khattar also launched development projects worth Rs 5,800 crore on the occasion and the Bhopal Metropolitan Region.