Countdown begins as Bhopal Metro enters final safety checks
The inspection is likely to be completed today
The wait for Bhopal Metro’s first ride is almost over. The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) began a two-day inspection of the priority corridor on Thursday — the last big step before trains can roll out for passengers.
Commissioner Janak Kumar Garg reached Subhash Nagar Depot in the morning, spending nearly three hours reviewing facilities before taking a ride on the 6.22 km stretch. He examined Subhash Nagar station for 30 minutes and AIIMS station for over an hour, focusing on safety features.
Officials said the visiting team from Mumbai is checking everything — from nuts and bolts on the tracks to depot infrastructure, signalling, and train software. Minor glitches are being fixed on the spot. The inspection is expected to wrap up on Friday, with clearance likely to follow without a second visit.
If all goes well, commercial operations are planned for October, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to inaugurate the service. Modi had virtually flagged off the Indore Metro from Bhopal on May 31, pushing officials to speed up pending works.
The AIIMS–Subhash Nagar stretch is part of Bhopal’s first 16.05 km metro route up to Karond. Work is already complete on the Subhash Nagar–Rani Kamlapati section, while finishing touches are on at AIIMS, DRM, and Alkapuri stations. Two steel bridges have also come up on the route.
Metro work began in 2018, and the first trial run was held on October 3 2023, when then CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan rode a train between Subhash Nagar and Rani Kamlapati railway station.
