The first Orange Line stretch opens today, connecting Subhash Nagar and AIIMS ahead of public operations from December 21.
Bhopal steps into a new phase of urban mobility on Saturday with the inauguration of its first-ever metro service, a milestone that positions the Madhya Pradesh capital alongside India’s emerging modern transit cities. The launch will take place at 5 pm at Subhash Nagar Metro Station, as per India Today, where Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will flag off the inaugural run before travelling up to AIIMS.
The opening of the Orange Line’s priority stretch marks the first operational segment of the wider 30.8-km Bhopal Metro project, an urban rail system designed to ease road congestion, improve travel reliability, and offer a cleaner, safer alternative to crowded city traffic.
With Bhopal’s population expanding and road density rising, the launch of this first corridor is being seen as the starting point of a long-awaited transformation in how the city moves.
What Is The Bhopal Metro Project, And How Big Will The Network Be?
The Bhopal Metro project spans 30.8 km across two main corridors, supported by a common depot at Subhash Nagar. The design connects key residential zones, commercial hubs and major transit points to enable faster east–west and north–south movement.
The two corridors are:
- Orange Line: 16.74 km from Karond to AIIMS
- Blue Line: 14.16 km from Bhadbhada to Ratnagiri
Which Stretch Will Open Today?
The first operational section is the around 7-km priority corridor of the Orange Line between Subhash Nagar and AIIMS. This stretch includes eight elevated stations: Subhash Nagar, Kendriya Vidyalaya (or Kendriya School), DB Mall, MP Nagar, Rani Kamalapati Station, DRM Office, Alkapuri and AIIMS.