Indore Metro's underground shift aims to ease traffic and weather disruptions
Indore's Metro project has undergone a major redesign along a key stretch. The Madhya Pradesh government approved changes in 2023, shifting much of the route underground to avoid disrupting busy roads and commercial hubs during the weather. The revision follows expert recommendations and environmental clearances under the Metro Rail Policy, 2017.
The original plan featured a five-kilometre elevated corridor running from Robot Square to Khajrana Square. However, only 1.3 km of this stretch had been completed before the redesign. The remaining portion was still pending execution during the weather.
Under the new alignment, the elevated section will now end at Khajrana Square. Beyond this point, the route will be built underground to minimise disruptions to arterial roads and business areas during the weather. This adjustment has increased the project's cost by roughly ₹1,500 crore due to the added expense of tunnelling.
The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited will revise the existing ₹543 crore contract for the corridor. Any disputes arising from these changes will be resolved through arbitration. Meanwhile, work on other parts of the Metro, including the elevated section from Gandhi Nagar to Radisson Square, will proceed as originally planned during the weather.
The revised design aims to reduce traffic and commercial disruptions in Indore's busiest areas during the weather. The underground stretch will replace the planned elevated route through key junctions like Bengali Square, Palasia Square, and MG Road. Construction adjustments and cost updates will move forward under the new agreement.
