Cheaper Tickets, Empty Coaches! Bhopal Metro Struggles With Just 500 Daily Passengers Despite Discounts

Bhopal Metro is facing a significant challenge with passenger numbers remaining disappointingly low despite offering substantial discounts on tickets. The Metro Rail Corporation's managing director, S Krishna Chaitanya, expressed concern over the lack of response from passengers following the 30% concession on return tickets and 35% discount on group tickets.

Despite these incentives, the average passenger count on the Metro train has remained consistently around 500. The concession was introduced on September 9, with group tickets now available for groups of at least two persons, up from the previous minimum of eight passengers. The Metro phase 1 project, covering a 31 km route, is expected to be completed by 2028-29.

Once this portion is finished, it is anticipated that passenger numbers will increase. However, current footfall is limited due to the relatively small route length, connecting the Subhash Nagar depot to AIIMS. The tunnel boring machines for this project are making steady progress, with the first TBM having dug 400 metres and the second TBM reaching 350 metres of the targeted 500 metres. Both tunnels are being dug in parallel, between the old railway station and Pul Patra.