Indore, Nov 19 (NationPress) Madhya Pradesh Urban Affairs Minister Kailash Vijayavargiya emphasized the necessity of having designated parking areas near each metro station to encourage commuters to utilize the metro for their daily journeys.

This announcement was made during a site inspection of the metro stations in Indore, accompanied by the city's Mayor Pushyamitara Bhargava, along with officials from the Urban Department and Indore Metro Rail Corporation (IMRC).

Vijayavargiya stated, "We are conducting inspections with officials from the Indore Development Authority and other relevant departments as Metro operations are set to commence. The challenges being identified will be communicated to the Metro authorities."

While addressing concerns regarding the inadequate parking amenities near metro stations in Indore, where the initial phase of the Metro Rail has commenced, Vijayavargiya noted that the Metro department is currently struggling with a lack of sufficient space to create dedicated parking facilities at certain stations.

He remarked, "When the design for the Indore Railway Metro was constructed, I insisted on having ample parking space at each metro station. However, upon completion, it became evident that several stations lacked designated parking lots. The Indore Development Authority has been instructed to allocate land for this purpose."

The test run for the second phase of the Metro Rail in Indore concluded a couple of months ago. Officials reported that a 31.32 km metro corridor has been established at a projected cost of Rs 7,500.80 crore.

This corridor will feature 28 stations within the city, which has a population exceeding 35 lakh. The project aims to deliver a more accessible, quicker, and eco-friendly public transportation option.

The inaugural phase of the Metro Rail service, connecting Gandhi Nagar and Radisson Square stations, was virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on May 31, coinciding with the 300th birth anniversary of Devi Ahilyabai, a ruler of the Holkar dynasty.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the Rail Metro in Bhopal has also been finalized, with trial runs currently underway.

Officials mentioned that Bhopal Metro is nearing its debut for passengers, with expectations of obtaining the vital No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) within the coming week or two.

Once the clearance is granted, the Metro Rail Corporation will formally inform the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and the Madhya Pradesh government that the system is prepared for commercial operations.