Indore Metro Magic Fading; To Now Run Just 6 Hours A Day

Indore (Madhya Pradesh): In a striking move that underscores the grim reality of underwhelming public response, the Indore Metro has drastically slashed its operational hours, running trains for just 6 hours a day that too only once an hour.

From Monday, the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) will operate metro services from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Sunday. However, service frequency has been sharply reduced only one train every hour from Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on Sunday.

This downsized schedule is being attributed to the dual challenges of low ridership and ongoing testing and commissioning works for the full 16-station priority corridor.

But behind the official reasoning, the ground reality paints a worrying picture of empty coaches, sparse footfall, and a city still not fully connecting with the metro as a preferred mode of transport.

Despite massive investment and high expectations, the metro’s ‘Super Priority Corridor’ is yet to generate significant traction among daily commuters.

Sources within the department admit that the reduced schedule is a cost-cutting measure as well as a response to the lack of demand. Until full corridor approval and expanded utility are achieved, Indore’s metro dream seems to be rolling on empty coaches.