The Bhopal Metro Rail Project is transitioning into its most challenging and sophisticated phase as two state-of-the-art Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) stand ready to initiate the underground corridor for the Orange Line Phase-2. Transported from Bengaluru at an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore each, these machines are currently undergoing final assembly and rigorous testing. According to the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) management, the precision testing phase is vital to ensure zero technical glitches during the complex subterranean excavation. The project aims to complete the underground stations and tunnel infrastructure by June 2028.

 

The defining feature of this phase is the construction of a 3.39-kilometre twin tunnel passing directly beneath some of the city’s most congested areas, including the Bhopal Railway Station and Nadra Bus Stand. Engineered to operate at a depth of approximately 19–20 meters (65 feet), the TBMs will allow construction to proceed without disrupting the city’s historical landmarks or the heavy traffic flow on the surface. Strategic Starting Point: The tunnelling work, spanning from Pul Patra to Sindhi Colony, will officially commence at the Bhopal Railway Station. This marks the first time that such an extensive twin-tunnel system is being constructed underground. The completion of this segment is critical for the Orange Line, as it will bridge the connection to the final terminus at Karond. Currently, metro operations are limited to the elevated stretch between AIIMS and Subhash Nagar.