https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Metro Trains to Start Running in MP from Next Year: Chhavi Bhardwaj, MD, MPMRCL

Indian Masterminds Stories

Madhya Pradesh will soon join member states Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Delhi-NCR in the Metro Rail club. And the IAS officer who is leading the state into joining this club is Ms. Chhavi Bhardwaj. Currently, she is the Managing Director of Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MPMRCL).

Under her leadership, work on the metro construction project took off at a breakneck speed and is almost nearing completion. Metro trains are now scheduled to start from next year in the state. During an interview to Indian Masterminds, the officer talked about the two metro projects in MP and the challenges she has faced in them. 

EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW

What are the projects currently going on under Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (MPMRCL)? 

We have metro plan for two major cities in Madhya Pradesh.  One is in Indore and other one in the state’s capital, Bhopal. Both the projects are currently going on. In Bhopal, we have two corridors covering almost an entire stretch of 30 kms. Similarly, the project going on in Indore covers a 31.5 kms stretch. 

How long will it take for the metro to be up and running in Madhya Pradesh? 

It was important for us to take a time limit and commission the project. However, completing the entire project in both the cities will take time. So, we are focusing on commissioning the first segment, or you can say, the priority corridors. In Bhopal, the corridor runs from AIIMS to Shubash Nagar, covering a 7 km stretch. While in Indore, the corridor is of 17 km, running between Radission Square to Airport with 15 stations in between. We have already recovered the backlog in construction and are hopeful to commence metro trains from September 2023.

Will this project connect the whole city?

Our aim is to ensure better connectivity and respectively cheaper mode of public transport for the people. With the completion of priority corridors in both the cities, people from various parts of the city would be able to come to the commercial centres and premier health institutions. Since Bhopal is more widely spread, so we will have to complete the entire 30 km stretch in order to connect the whole city. Still the 7 km corridor will reach a lot of people. 

Since Bhopal is an old and crowded city, did you face challenges in terms of construction? 

The 7 km corridor which is on priority spreads over the newer part of the city, locally called New Bhopal. This part is comparatively clear, so it was not difficult, as there was very less issues of removal or reinstallation during the construction. In most of the segments, we easily got ROWs (type of easement over the land for transportation) along the median of the road. However, in the centre of Bhopal, we have taken 3 km underground segment, as there was no possibility of cutting through it. 

What about Indore? 

We had to take 7 km underground segment in the heart of Indore. Although the cost of constructing underground metro is thrice the cost of the elevated one, in congested areas where the possibility is zero, we are going ahead with underground metro. Municipal Corporation is there to coordinate and help us. So, we hope to complete the project in time.  


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
IRSSE (Indian Railway Service of Signal Engineers) officer
IRSSE Gaurav Govil Debarred from Central Deputation for 5 Years Over Non-Compliance with CVO Appointment
Delhi High Court-resized-DelhiHC
Faith vs Discipline: Delhi HC Backs Army in Termination of Officer, Upholds Dismissal For Refusing Religious Parade Participation
IRS Officer Indian revenue Services
Senior IRS Officer Caught in Bribery Case: ₹25 Lakh Seized at Mohali Residence, ₹45 Lakh Demanded – Know the Full Story
PNB Housing Finanace
PNB Housing Finance Elevates Bhavya Taneja as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) - Know More About Him
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann
Air Marshal Jasvir Singh Mann Takes Over as Senior Air Staff Officer, Western Air Command - Know More About Him
Rajgir Sports
Bihar’s Mega Sports Push: Playgrounds, Stadiums & Talent Hunt Transform State; Over 50 Lakh Students Join
Indian Oil IOCL
Indian Oil (IOCL) Finalizes LCOH for India’s Largest Green Hydrogen Plant at Panipat Refinery - Details Inside
RECPDCL Handover WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission Limited SPV to Adani Energy
RECPDCL Hands Over WRNES Talegaon Power Transmission SPV to Adani Energy Solutions - All Details Inside
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
ANUBHAV SINGH UPSC IFS 2024
9 Years, 8 Attempts, 7 Failures: How Anubhav Singh Cracked UPSC IFS 2024 with AIR 3 Against All Odds | Exclusive
Anubhav Singh’s inspiring journey to UPSC IFS Rank 3 showcases relentless perseverance, strategic preparation,...
Jogender Sihag
“I Cleared UPSC, But My Grandfather isn’t Here to Hear it,” Jogender Sihag, AIR 521, UPSC CSE 2024
"Life is short; make the most of it, whether in civil service or any other field. Just have a clear vision...
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Leopard into Well Indore
Wildlife on the Edge: Why Leopards Keep Falling into Wells in MP’s Mhow & How Communities Are Navigating Coexistence
Harry Hobbs of Kolkata and Other Forgotten Lives
Nine Colonial Lives That Shaped Calcutta: Devasis Chattopadhyay’s Fascinating Chronicle | Book Review
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT