Nagpur Metro’s Phase 3 expansion is set to be significantly broader than initially planned, with authorities proposing extensions that would take the network up to the upcoming New Nagpur township and deeper into the Butibori industrial belt.

According to officials, the revised blueprint has been incorporated into the city’s Comprehensive Mobility Plan and submitted to the Maharashtra government for consideration. Phase 3 was originally planned as a single corridor connecting Sitabuldi with Koradi to improve links between the city centre and the northern suburbs.

Planners are now working on adding two additional corridors under the same phase, reflecting evolving urban growth patterns and rising industrial activity. One of the key proposals includes a 5 km extension beyond the Butibori MIDC, which is currently the terminal point of Phase 2. The extension is intended to serve increasing commuter demand from factories, ancillary units and emerging residential clusters in the industrial zone.

Another major proposal involves extending Metro services to New Nagpur, a greenfield city project planned near the Samruddhi Mahamarg circle. Being developed with the involvement of the Nagpur Improvement Trust, New Nagpur is expected to emerge as a major residential, commercial and institutional hub.

Officials said the proposed Metro alignment would branch out near Metro City stations of Phase 2 and extend towards New Nagpur, ensuring long-term integration of mass transit with future urban development. The Nagpur Improvement Trust has already shared its master plan for New Nagpur with MahaMetro, prompting efforts to align Metro expansion with the city’s growth strategy.

While the expanded Phase 3 proposal is ready at a conceptual level, further progress is temporarily on hold due to the Model Code of Conduct in force for the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections. Officials said tenders for preparing detailed project reports for the new corridors will be issued shortly after the code is lifted, likely within a month.