Bhopal, December 8 (NationPress) The eagerly anticipated inaugural phase of the Bhopal Metro Rail service is set to commence on December 21, as announced by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav during a press briefing in Khajuraho.

With this important milestone, Bhopal will join the ranks as the second city in the state to operate a metro rail service, enhancing public transportation and ensuring safer travel for its residents.

The metro service in Indore was officially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 31 of this year.

“The BJP administration is dedicated to all possible measures that will transform Madhya Pradesh into a developed state. In this context, the Bhopal Metro Rail will be launched on December 21. On that day, numerous other initiatives will also be unveiled,” CM Yadav stated.

The announcement follows the recent final inspection by the Bhopal Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), Nilabhra Sengupta, who provided the essential clearance for passenger operations to commence.

Officials from the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) have verified that all necessary permissions have been secured.

The inaugural phase of the Bhopal Metro spans 6.22 kilometers and will include eight stations: Subhash Nagar, Kendriya Vidyalaya, DB Mall, MP Nagar, Rani Kamlapati Railway Station, DRM office, Alkapuri, and AIIMS Bhopal.

Meanwhile, construction for the second phase of the metro in both Bhopal and Indore is currently in progress.

A senior MPMRCL official previously mentioned that passenger services would commence on the inauguration day, followed by a week of complimentary travel.

Once the free travel period concludes, ticket prices will remain budget-friendly, starting at Rs 10 for short distances and Rs 20 for trips covering approximately eight kilometers.

In its initial phase, metro trains will run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., with a frequency of one train every half hour.