CMRS concludes 3-Day Safety Inspection of Bhopal Metro Priority Corridor

Bhopal, India (Metro Rail Today): The Bhopal Metro Priority Corridor is now almost ready for its long-awaited public debut, with officials expecting the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Shri Nilabhra Sengupta, to issue the essential No Objection Certificate (NOC) within the next one to two weeks. The newly appointed CMRS recently completed a three-day inspection of the Orange Line’s 6.225-km Priority Stretch from AIIMS to Subhash Nagar, marking a major milestone in the project’s journey toward commercial operations.

The inspection covered the Bhopal Metro Depot as well as critical systems, including signalling, rolling stock, tracks, emergency evacuation routes, platform facilities, and control-room readiness. According to project officials, the CMRS has so far not raised any objections, signalling that the corridor is on track for regulatory clearance.

Once the NOC is issued, MPMRCL will formally inform the Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the Madhya Pradesh Government. The State government will then determine an inauguration date and approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the official launch, depending on his schedule. Internal discussions suggest that the Metro may be inaugurated before the year ends, possibly even by late November.

The Priority Corridor, which will be the first segment of the Orange Line to open, consists of eight stations stretching from Subhash Nagar Depot to AIIMS. It includes modern platform systems, upgraded passenger-safety features, and fully integrated operations designed for smooth, reliable service. The Orange Line itself spans 14.99 km from Karond Circle to AIIMS and forms part of Phase 1, which includes two corridors with 28 stations scheduled to be fully operational by 2027.

Although the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects were launched together, Indore took the lead by beginning partial operations in May. With Bhopal now close to receiving safety clearance, Madhya Pradesh is expected to become one of the few states with two active metro systems.

Mrs. Mamta Shah, MD & CEO of Urban Infra Group, welcomed the development, calling it a significant advancement for the city.

“The CMRS inspection marks a defining moment for Bhopal Metro. Once operational, the city will experience a major leap toward safer, cleaner, and faster urban mobility. The Priority Corridor lays the foundation for the full network rollout and strengthens Madhya Pradesh’s long-term infrastructure vision.”

Officials connected with the project remain optimistic that, with safety certification now within reach, Bhopal Metro will finally open its doors to passengers after years of anticipation.