Indore Metro Running At 8% Capacity; 300-Passenger Metro Runs With Just 24 Per Trip

Indore Metro, which commenced operations on September 6, is currently operating at a mere 8% capacity, with only 24 passengers per trip on its 300-passenger trains. In the first 30 days of its commercial run, the Metro has facilitated around 75,000 passenger journeys, generating approximately Rs 30 lakh in fare revenue. However, the electricity expenditure for these journeys has surpassed Rs 35 lakh, with total operating expenses potentially exceeding Rs 50 lakh.

This means that for every Rs 100 earned through fares, the Metro incurs a cost of more than Rs 116 on electricity alone, not including staff, maintenance, security, and station management expenses.

The Metro, with its two trainsets stationed at each terminal, conducts around 1,540 to 1,550 complete round trips monthly, translating to 3,080 to 3,100 one-way train movements. Despite the high number of train movements, the average passenger occupancy is only about 24 per movement, considering each train can accommodate around 300 passengers. This results in a significant vacancy of approximately 276 passenger spaces per one-way journey.

While the initial daily ridership reached around 6,000 passengers during the opening phase, it has since declined to approximately 2,000 passengers on regular days. However, passenger journeys surged to over 21,000 in the previous week, suggesting higher weekend and leisure travel. Holidays, on the other hand, have seen around 5,000 passengers.

The challenges extend beyond capacity issues. Connectivity, parking, and fare affordability are also concerns. Currently, parking facilities are available at only a few stations, and passengers feel that the fares are relatively high for the limited network. To encourage regular commuters, officials are planning a monthly pass scheme, which will include discounts for digital wallet recharges.