Indore Metro

The Indore Metro is a rapid transit system serving Indore, the largest city in the state of Madhya Pradesh, India. The Yellow Line is the only one currently in operation. The full line will consist of more than 34 km from Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar Terminal to Airport. The first phase of the project was completed and inaugurated on 31 May 2025 by PM Narendra Modi on 300th Birth anniversary of Maharani Ahilyabai Holkar.

Four other corridors (lines) covering a distance of have been proposed. The Yellow line project will cost approximately . The cost per km will be 182 crores and total cost is 15,000 crores. The metro system will be elevated, underground and at grade.

Funding

On 1 May 2019, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) gave in-principle approval to fund the Indore Metro project. The Union Government will stand as guarantor for the loan.

Route Network

DPR for Indore Metro Rail system is prepared by Rohit Associates Cities and Rails Private limited (erstwhile Rohit Associates Architects and Engineers Private limited) headed by Architect Rohit Gupta .Indore Metro rail is master planned and designed by Architect Rohit Gupta and his team as ultra-modern state-of-the-art driverless metro system. The total operational network planned by Architect Rohit Gupta which is described in detail in the DPR of Indore metro Rail prepared by Rohit Associates Cities and Rails Private limited is 124.43 km out of which the Ring line that is 31.55 km is under construction and partially trial run is already done. The complete master plan of the Indore metro rail can be seen in the DPR available with Ministry of Housing and urban affairs Government of India and on the official website of Rohit associates cities and rails private limited http://rohitassociates.ind.in/indore.html

Phase 1

In Phase 1, Yellow Line consists of 29 stations.

Status updates

* Oct 2018: DPR prepared by Rohit Associates Cities & Rails Pvt. Ltd. is approved by central government.
* Aug 2019: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between central and state governments for Bhopal and Indore metro. State and central governments will bear 20% of the project cost each and remaining 60% will be funded by international banks. Indore metro to be operational by 2023. Construction work is ongoing as of 21 August 2019.
* Aug 2020: Minister of Madhya Pradesh Government pushes to start the tendering and civil engineering work for Indore Metro so that it can be inaugurated before August 2023.
*Mar 2021: Construction of Elevated Viaduct Between ISBT/MR10 And Mumtaj Bagh Colony Construction facing issues and delays due to disputes between GC and Dilip Buildcon. Tenders for construction of 9 Elevated Metro Stations and Elevated Viaduct on Line 3 (Yellow Line) from MR10 Road Station to Gandhi Nagar Station (10.9 km) and 7 Elevated Metro Stations and Elevated Viaduct on Line 3 (Yellow Line) from ISBT to Radisson Square are released and bids are invited. Soil testing for underground metro from Airport to Gandhi Hall begins.
*Dec 2021: Foundation stone for construction of 11 km viaduct of Phase I ring-line (total 31 km) laid again, along with proposed construction of 16 metro stations which are cumulatively worth Rs. 1,417 crores. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) has been awarded both the contracts. 16 firms submit bids for construction of Metro Depot at Gandhinagar. Contentions over shifting of Indore metro project in Seismic zone-IV category with allegations of benefiting certain business houses, continue to reflect fault lines and the future loss of revenue which government might suffer.
*Oct 2023: A trial run of the metro line was completed successfully in October 2023, signaling a major milestone in the completion of the project.
*Apr 2024: The final pre cast segments were completed, bringing the whole project closer to completion.
*May 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the priority corridor consisting of five stations.

Controversies

Change in seismic zone

The Indore Metro project has been subject to serious contestation due to the change in seismic zone from zone II to zone IV which led to increase in costs for the entire project.

Funding

On 9 October 2015, the then Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had claimed to have received consent from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for Rs 12,000 crore loan at 0.3 percent interest rate for Bhopal and Indore Metro rail projects. However, during an update on 7 March 2017 it was revealed by state's Urban Administration and Development Minister Maya Singh that JICA has refused to fund the metro projects of Bhopal and Indore.

Fraud allegations

A newspaper claimed to have found discrepancies in billing by contractors amounting to Rs 110 crore, prompting an official investigation.

See also

* Urban rail transit in India
** Bhoj Metro (Bhopal)

References

Notes

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External links

Bhopal, Indore to have Metro Rail soon

Metro rail facility soon in Bhopal

{{Rapid transit in India

Proposed rapid transit in India
Standard-gauge railways in India
Transport in Indore
Companies based in Indore
Proposed infrastructure in Madhya Pradesh