Bhopal Metro Sees 10% Rise in Train Rides

Bhopal, the capital city of Madhya Pradesh, has seen a 10% rise in ridership on the first day of double-track operations of its Metro rail service. The Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) operated four trains, making 50 trips daily, which is a significant increase from the previous 14 trips. However, the rise in ridership is largely attributed to the increased number of trips and repeat journeys, rather than a growth in passenger footfall.

The peak-hour waiting time has been reduced from 75 minutes to just 15 minutes, making the service more frequent and convenient for commuters. On Saturday, 500 tickets were sold, with an average of about 10 passengers per trip. This underscores the challenge of drawing new commuters to the Metro service, despite the improved frequency.

The Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) recently cleared train operations on both tracks, allowing MPMRCL to increase services. Trains now run every 15 minutes during peak hours and every 30 minutes during non-peak hours. Nearly 70% of commuters opted for return journeys on Saturday, resulting in an increase in ticketed journeys, but the number of individual passengers remained largely unchanged.

The revised timetable has been designed to improve connectivity to key locations such as AIIMS Bhopal, Rani Kamalapati Railway Station, MP Nagar, and Vallabh Bhavan. The first train leaves Subhash Nagar at 9 am and AIIMS at 9.30 am, while the last services leave at 6.30 pm and 7 pm respectively. Peak hour operations are between 9 am and 10.30 am and from 5.30 pm to 7 pm.

To encourage Metro usage, MPMRCL is promoting digital ticketing through its mobile app, UPI, and QR code payments. The corporation is also offering a 5% discount on return tickets, a 10% concession on group bookings, and bonus credits on e-wallet recharges.

Despite these efforts, the Metro service is still struggling to attract new commuters. The managing director of MPMRCL, S Krishna Chaitanya, said that the revised schedule would improve connectivity to key locations, but it remains to be seen whether this will be enough to increase passenger footfall.

The Bhopal Metro service is an important part of the city's transportation infrastructure, and its success is crucial for reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. However, the low passenger footfall is a concern, and MPMRCL will need to continue to work on attracting new commuters to the service.

In conclusion, while the Bhopal Metro has seen a rise in ridership, the low passenger footfall remains a challenge. The corporation will need to continue to promote the service and encourage commuters to use it, in order to make it a success.