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Bhopal: The hastily started metro service in the capital Bhopal is now under question. On one hand, shortcomings regarding metro stations and routes have come to light, while on the other hand, the metro, which is being run on a half-completed corridor, is now facing shortage of passengers. The situation is such that in just 15 days of operation, the speed of Bhopal Metro has started slowing down and the operating time and trips have to be reduced.
Operations started for common passengers from December 21
Bhopal Metro was flagged off on 20 December 2025 by Union Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav. Whereas the next day from December 21, the metro gates were opened for the general public. There was curiosity among the people in the first one or two days and about 5 to 6 thousand passengers traveled in the metro. But this enthusiasm could not last long. The number of passengers kept decreasing as the days passed.
Now there will be no operation from 9 am
At present the situation has become such that now only 500 to 800 passengers are using the metro every day. Many times the entire train is seen passing through the station without any passengers. This huge shortage of passengers has increased the concern of the Metro Corporation. Due to this, Bhopal Metro Corporation has decided to make major changes in the operating schedule. Now the metro will operate from 12 noon instead of 9 am.
Now 13 trips will run from afternoon to evening
With the change in time table, the number of trips in Bhopal Metro has also been reduced from 17 to 13. The new schedule will be effective from January 5 i.e. today. According to the new schedule, the metro will run only from 12 noon to 7:30 pm. The first train will leave from AIIMS station at 12 noon and reach Subhash Nagar station at 12.25 pm. After this, it will leave from Subhash Nagar at 12.40 pm and reach AIIMS at 1.05 pm. In this way the metro will complete its round trip in an interval of approximately 75 minutes.
This is how the graph of passengers decreased
Passenger figures also reveal the declining reputation of the metro. From December 21 to January 2, a total of 29 thousand passengers traveled in Bhopal Metro. 6 thousand 568 passengers used the metro on the first day. 2 thousand 896 passengers on 22 December. 2 thousand 163 passengers on 23, 1 thousand 787 passengers on 24, 4 thousand 264 passengers on 25, 1 thousand 473 passengers on 26, 1200 passengers on 27, 2 thousand 349 passengers on 28, 1100 passengers on 29, 967 passengers on 30, 1 thousand 113 passengers on 31, 2 thousand on 1 January Only 1 thousand 65 passengers traveled on 23rd and 2nd January.
Attracting riders is a big challenge
Architect and Town Planner Suyash Kulshrestha Says, “Apart from the metro, buses and other means of transport are also available on the route on which the metro is running in Bhopal. Along with this, it is taking 35 to 40 minutes to reach about 7 kilometers from AIIMS to Subhash Nagar in Bhopal Metro. Whereas the same route can be reached by any other transport in just 10 to 15 minutes. Kulshrestha said, “Metro is being ridiculed on social media for changing the schedule and reducing trips in such a short time. At present, the biggest challenge before Bhopal Metro is to attract people and increase regular ridership.
Metro timings extended by 30 minutes in the evening
Any official is avoiding giving any statement regarding why the timings of Bhopal Metro have been changed. Krishna Chaitanya, MD of Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Says, “Due to the cold in the morning, people are preferring to go out less. Due to which the number of people remains less in the morning. But after noon the crowd of passengers increases. Therefore, earlier the metro was being operated till 7.25 pm, but now it has been extended till 7.55 pm.
