Just one week after its grand inauguration, the sheen of the Bhopal Metro is already facing a harsh collision with a messy ground reality. While authorities project a gradual increase in passenger numbers, the current scene around the elevated stations reveals significant unfinished work, posing challenges and safety risks for early commuters.
Modest Ridership Meets Unfinished Infrastructure
Early ridership figures for the newly launched metro service remain modest. Officials from the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) maintain that growth is expected once full station access is operational. However, the immediate concern lies not inside the trains but on the ground leading to them.
Under several of the initial eight elevated stations, the approach roads and pedestrian areas present a picture of incompletion. According to sources within the MPMRCL, barely 10 to 20 percent of these crucial access zones appear truly finished. This leaves commuters navigating a frustrating and potentially hazardous path.
Safety Hazards and Commuter Inconvenience
Instead of smooth plazas and safe, level access, passengers are forced to deal with broken surfaces, missing pedestrian crossings, and improvised detours. A critical design flaw in current operations is the non-functional entry and exit points on both sides of major corridors.
For instance, at busy stations like MP Nagar, which should ideally distribute footfall evenly, only one side is currently operational. This forces commuters to make a risky dash across mid-traffic to reach the other side of the road, significantly increasing the chance of accidents.
A Crucial Window for Urgent Action
The coming days and weeks form a critical window for the authorities. To prevent Bhopal's costly new public transport asset from permanently being associated with an unfinished and unsafe public realm, several urgent steps are required. These include:
- Complete restoration of roads around all metro stations.
- Installation of proper zebra crossings and pedestrian signals.
- Implementation of traffic speed calming measures.
- Clear wayfinding signage to guide passengers seamlessly.
The success of the Bhopal Metro hinges not just on the trains running on time, but on providing a safe, convenient, and complete journey from the street to the seat. Unless these ground-level issues are addressed urgently, the project risks failing to attract the ridership it needs to become a sustainable and transformative urban mobility solution for the city.
