Indore metro breaks records in Indian rail development

Indore, hailed as the cleanest and smartest city in India, marked a significant milestone in its history with the successful trial run of its inaugural metro train on Saturday. The trial, spanning 6 km from Gandhi Nagar to Super Corridor stations, saw the participation of Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh, along with officials and people's representatives.

The Chief Minister extended his congratulations to the residents of Indore and all those involved in the trial's success. He also announced the formation of the Metropolitan Authority in Indore and the expansion of the Indore Metro to Pithampur and Ujjain via Sanwer by the next Simhastha in Ujjain in 2028. Upon the completion of the Rs 75 billion project and its public opening, a staggering seven lakh people will have the daily commuting convenience of this new mode of transport. The three-coach train, with a speed of 90 kmph, is equipped with ample space for specially-abled individuals.

The fully air-conditioned metro train accommodates 50 passengers seated and 300 standing. Covering a vast area of over 31 km, the metro service will include 28 stations, seven of which are underground, and 21 elevated. The system will feature automatic ticketing through the National Common Mobility Card. Remarkably, the construction of the 6.3 km long metro viaduct, spanning two monsoon seasons, was achieved in a mere 484 days. Track laying was completed in four months, and the construction of three track turnouts set a country record at 27 days.

The electrification of these turnouts took eight days, and the metro rail coach construction finished within five months after design approval. The entire traction third rail system was installed within 45 days, and 4 escalators were operational within 23 days.