Indore is set for a significant leap in urban transport as the state government has approved the consultancy fees for preparing the Detailed Project Report of the Indore-Ujjain-Pithampur Metro Rail Project. The project, awarded to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), aims to build a sustainable high-capacity corridor that will link the spiritual city of Ujjain, the commercial capital Indore, and the industrial hub of Pithampur within the next five years.
According to government officials, the DPR consultancy will cost Rs 9 lakh per kilometre including GST. In its first phase, the metro line will connect Shri Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain with Lavkush Square in Indore, while the second phase will extend the service to Pithampur, one of Madhya Pradesh’s largest industrial clusters. This corridor is expected to reduce travel time significantly and create a more sustainable mode of mobility across the region. Officials emphasised that the project is not restricted to Indore and Bhopal but designed to link surrounding suburban zones, aligning with the vision of building inclusive and accessible urban transport. They added that while the larger network may take two decades to fully materialise, the priority remains establishing core routes that carry the highest passenger and economic impact.
Surveys on both the Indore-Ujjain and Indore-Pithampur stretches are currently in progress, and the government anticipates operational readiness within four to five years. Extensions towards Dewas and Dhar are also being examined, depending on traffic potential and long-term feasibility. If realised, the expanded network will establish Indore as a central hub in the state’s transport grid. The metro’s expansion is viewed as a catalyst for balanced regional development. By connecting a religious destination, a commercial hub, and an industrial township, the project aims to boost tourism, improve labour mobility, and reduce dependency on fossil-fuel-based transport. Urban mobility specialists argue that such integrated transport planning is essential to achieving India’s commitments to zero net carbon growth in cities.
The cabinet meeting also approved renewable energy initiatives to support rural water supply schemes and sanctioned the creation of over 600 new posts under the Directorate of Prosecution, but the metro project stole the spotlight for its potential to reshape mobility in central India. Experts suggest that if implemented with modern, energy-efficient infrastructure, the Indore-Ujjain-Pithampur Metro could become a benchmark in sustainable transit development. However, the success of the project will depend on timely execution, careful financing, and an emphasis on equitable accessibility. For Indore and its neighbouring cities, this expansion signals more than just a transport upgrade—it marks a step towards integrated, future-ready urban growth.
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