Bhopal Metro Gets Off The Ground: Excavation Work Begins On AIIMS-Subhash Nagar Route

In welcome news for Bhopal residents, the groundwork for the city’s metro rail system has been initiated after the Centre approved the project two months ago. The excavation is being carried out at the Gurudev Gupt square at MP Nagar by Dilip Buildcon Limited as part of civil works on a 6.22 km metro route from AIIMS to Subhash Nagar underbridge, reports Dainik Bhaskar.

Prior to the excavation work at MP Nagar, a major water pipeline supplying Kolar had to be shifted. Studies are currently underway to determine which pipelines, cables and other underground utilities may further have to be shifted in order to make way for pillar construction of the metro.

All along the proposed metro route, sample testing of the soil is also being conducted by the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Co to determine the degree of excavations required on each portion.

Jitendra Gupta, Director (Technical) of the company has stated that after soil testing is over, another month will be required for preparing the technical design for the route, after which civil works can begin in later January or early February.

The total length of the Bhopal Metro is going to be 27.87 km, to be completed at a cost of around Rs 6962.92 crores. The European Investment Bank (EIB) had last year agreed to finance upwards of half of the proposed cost of the project, but the final terms of the loan have not been determined yet.

If the project proceeds at the planned pace, passengers will be able to experience their first rides on Bhopal Metro by 2022.