After bagging the title of the Cleanest City in India, Indore has charted its journey towards the development of its own metro system now. On Sunday, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh laid down the foundation stone for two work packages of the city’s maiden metro corridor, setting Indore on the tracks of a public commute upgrade. As per reports, the entire project has been budgeted at ₹7,500 crores and will begin with the construction of a ring-shaped line in the first phase.
Indore Metro Rail Project to be completed in various packages
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The first phase of the Indore Metro Project will loop the Indore Airport, in a ring-like corridor. This line will witness work in 2 packages, including 16 stations and an 11 km viaduct, along a 31 km stretch. Once complete, the line will witness as many as 12.60 crore passenger trips annually, passing through prominent stations like Gandhi Nagar, Bhawarsala, Radisson Square, Bengali Square, Indore Railway Station, Rajwada Palace to Airport. The cumulative cost of the same has been budgeted at ₹1,417 crores.
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Package 2 of the Metro Project covers the conceptualisation and construction of 7 elevated metro stations, along with a viaduct portion and transition spans at each stop. A budget of ₹381.95 crores has been sanctioned to complete this parcel, with entry-exit structures, architectural finishes and electrical and mechanical works, added reports. The scope will also map the construction constructing a roughly 575-meter depot-line.
Package 3 has been allocated a budget of ₹1,035 crores to design and construct another elevated 11-km viaduct between MR10 Road and Gandhi Nagar. This section will include 9 overhead stations. As per reports, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has secured the contract of both these packages (2 and 3).
Need of metro line in Indore
Indore has been titled as the commercial capital of Madhya Pradesh. However, it has long been facing connectivity challenges in the rapid urbanisation due to inadequate transport systems. While the city has a laudable bus network, it is unable to meet to the demands of the rapidly rising footfalls. This is primarily because the city’s bus lines have been saturated and the only way forward now is alternative systems.
This is where the Indore Metro Rail Project comes into the picture. The system will not only help to remodel the city’s public commute infrastructure but will also open up economic means of travel. The metro will bring advantages to a lot of people, including students and daily travellers, reducing vehicular traffic and as such, air pollution.
