As preparations gather pace for the launch of the Bhopal Metro on 21 December, focus has shifted to Indore, where authorities are racing to expand the city’s early-stage Metro network to improve connectivity and passenger uptake.

The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRC) is targeting an extension of the operational ‘Super Priority Corridor’ from the current 6 km stretch to a longer 17 km ‘Priority Corridor’ by the end of the ongoing financial year. The expansion is seen as crucial to improving ridership on the existing line between Gandhi Nagar and SC-03 Station, where weekly passenger numbers remain below 500.

Indore Metro recorded around 0.247 million passengers in the first six months after services commenced on 31 May. However, officials said a large share of this traffic was concentrated in the opening month, driven by public curiosity and heavily discounted fares, with usage tapering off thereafter.

According to officials, construction on the next 11 km section from SC-03 Station to Radisson Square is more than 80 per cent complete. Once operational, the extended corridor is expected to significantly enhance connectivity across key parts of the city and make the Metro a more practical option for daily commuting.

A mandatory safety inspection by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety is scheduled for January. Subject to clearance without major conditions, the extended corridor could be opened to commuters by the end of March.

Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is also expected to review the project’s progress, with MPMRC preparing a detailed update on both elevated and underground sections. Among the key issues under consideration is a proposed realignment of the underground stretch between Khajrana and the airport, aimed at reducing demolition and disruption in densely populated areas.

Any change in alignment would require approvals from multiple authorities, including the State Cabinet and the Central Government. Officials said the upcoming review is expected to firm up timelines for commissioning the expanded elevated section, with the emphasis on an early launch in the new year.