Important meeting today • Work has been stalled here since June 2024 due to alignment
Indore
The decision on how the metro train will extend beyond Khajrana is likely to be made on Monday. The Metro Rail Corporation, IDA, Municipal Corporation, and PWD will meet at 11 a.m. to discuss the metro’s route alignment. Work beyond Khajrana has been stalled since June 2024. It’s believed the meeting may reach an agreement on undergrounding the metro between Khajrana Square and Bengali Square. This will cost an additional ₹700-800 crore (700-800 crore rupees). The state government will have to pay this amount over four years.
The meeting will be chaired by Urban Administration Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya. ACS Sanjay Dubey will also be present. Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava stated that in addition to the metro route, several topics will be discussed, including increasing the corporation’s income and the Smart City project.
An additional cost of Rs 700 to 800 crore will be incurred if the project is underground.
Commercial run of Metro is currently going on in 06 km.
Now full emphasis on reducing expenses
A tender worth ₹550 crore was issued for the 5.5 km elevated corridor from Robot Square to Palasia, but the project has been stalled for a year and a half. The undergrounding project was originally estimated to cost ₹1,600 crore, but this has now been reduced to ₹700-800 crore. There are also plans to remove the Journalist Colony station to reduce costs and compensation. An elevated metro corridor is proposed on Kanadia Road.
Three routes are being discussed, but none is completely easy.
1.Underground: Underground between Khajrana and Bengali Chauraha.
2. Agriculture College: Take a turn towards Saket.
3. MG Road: Just before Palasia to underground.
After the last meeting, officers worked on three options. MG Road cannot be demolished, the Saket route would involve extensive demolition, and the Krishi College route is not practical. Therefore, undergrounding from Khajrana to Bengali Square is considered the most likely option. Surveys were conducted on all three options, but none proved completely feasible. The Saket and Krishi College routes would involve extensive demolition, while undergrounding before Palasia faces technical difficulties.
