NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): Nagpur Metro Rail is the new rapid transit system in Maharashtra, India. The MRTS is 38.21 kilometres long. Nagpur Metro is an advanced public transit system that serves the city of Nagpur. The system, which is still in its early stages, includes 24 metro stations with a total length of 26.1 kilometres. Nagpur Metro is being built in two phases, each with a single line. These three-coach trains have a top speed of 90 km/h and an average speed of 33 km/h. Nagpur Metro operates on standard gauge lines with overhead wires that produce 25 kV alternating current.
On August 20, 2014, the Union Cabinet approved the development of the metro project, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone on August 21, 2014, during his visit to the city. On March 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari started its operations via video conference.
Nagpur Metro Rail Lines
Nagpur Metro rail currently has two lines in operation. These are:
- Sitabuldi to Khapri (Orange Line or Line 1)
- Sitabuldi to Lokmanya Nagar (Aqua Line or Line 2)Â
Orange Line
Line 1 is also known as the Orange Line. It opened its first segment to visitors on March 8, 2019. The Orange Line extends 13.5 kilometres from Sitabuldi to Khapri station. There are now 11 stops on the route, with a total of 20 planned. Line 1 runs north-south, connecting the city’s central and southern regions. The Orange Line extends in both directions, with 20 stops and a route length of about 23 kilometres. It runs south from Khapri until it reaches Metro City, then north from Sitabuldi until it reaches Automotive Square.
Aqua Line
The Nagpur Metro’s Aqua Route is a metro line in Nagpur, India. This Aqua Line, which connects Prajapati Nagar to Hingna Mount View Metro Station, is 19.407 kilometres long and has 21 stations. The metro stations on the Aqua Line are all elevated. The Nagpur Metro’s Aqua Line began partially operational on January 28, 2020. Aqua Line and Orange Line both have only one interchange station.
North-South Corridor: Orange Line
The stations along the Orange Line : Khapri, New Airport, Airport, Ujwal Nagar, Jayprakash Nagar, Chhatrapati Square, Ajni Square, Rahate Colony, Congress Nagar, Sitabuldi, Zero Mile, Kasturchand Park, Gaddigodam Square, Kadvi Square, Indora Square, Nari Road, Automotive Square.
East-West Corridor: Aqua Line
The stations along the Aqua Line : Prajapati Nagar, Vaishno Devi Square, Ambedkar Square, Telephone Exchange, ChittarOli Square, Agrasen Square, Dosar Vaisya Square, Nagpur Railway Station, Sitabuldi, Jhansi Rani Square, Institute of Engineers, Shankar Nagar Square, LAD Square, Dharampeth College, Subhash Nagar, Rachana Ring Road Junction, Vasudev Nagar, Bansi Nagar, Lokmanya Nagar
Interchange Station
The Sitabuldi Metro Station, located in Nagpur, Maharashtra, works as an interchange terminal for commuters desiring to make transition from the Orange Line to the Aqua Line. The station is a T-shaped structure of 250,000 square feet.
Metro Fare
Travelling by metro is not only economical, but it also helps to reduce carbon footprints. Nagpur Metro is the city’s most affordable mode of transportation. Commuters don’t need to carry cash if they buy tickets with a metro card. Furthermore, Maha Metro gives ride discounts to encourage citizens to use their cards.
Rail Timings
Nagpur Metro operates on a regular basis. Furthermore, the authority keeps passengers informed of any changes in the itinerary via its social media portals.
Metro Connectivity
Initiatives like battery-powered vehicles are part of the Nagpur Metro project. Furthermore, it offers pedestrian facilities as well as bicycle sharing. There are 24 operating stations; 14 metro stations are currently under construction. Furthermore, the overall length of the Nagpur Metro Rail is 43.8 kilometres.
Station Facilities
Under the slogan ‘Metro for Everyone,’ each Nagpur Metro station is built distinctively. In addition to convenient access, these metro stations have a childcare facility room and CCTV surveillance. Furthermore, these metro stations offer first-rate facilities for physically disabled travellers as well as multi-modal services.
Automated Fare Collection System
Nagpur Metro Rail ticketing is a cutting-edge Automated Fare Collection System that uses Contactless Fare Media Technology. The fare collection process categorises metro stations as paid or unpaid. Automatic entry/exit gates and barriers separate the paid and unpaid zones. It ensures that only individuals with a valid ticket are permitted to enter the system. The system is designed to be closed with ticket checks at both entry and exit, ensuring that all tickets are checked 100 percent of the time.
Tickets for Contactless Smart Card (CSC) and Contactless Smart Token (CST) are available. Tokens are pre-paid fare media that can be used to travel between fixed stations. Tokens, which can be purchased for a single or return trip, are a better fare media option for infrequent riders. Contactless Smart Cards have stored-value cards that can be monetary (e-Purse) or non-monetary (Pass), or a combination of the two, and offer a variety of features to entice regular and frequent users.
The AFC System accepts a variety of passes/tickets and offers a stage-based pricing structure. It’s also flexible enough to allow other fare structures/ticketing alternatives, such as flat fares, time-based fares, free transfers across modes, and so on.
SBI MAHA Card for Nagpur Metro
As consortium leader, SBI and its AFC and System Integrator partners implemented the Nagpur Metro Project’s Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system.
The MAHA Card contains a stored value balance that allows for offline transactions at Nagpur metro stations. Travellers must tap their MAHA Card at the platform’s entry gate and then again at the destination station’s exit gate after concluding their travel.
For a secure, convenient, and seamless payment process, the card features a dual interface (EMV chip) with stored value functionality. Metro riders can obtain an MAHA Card by applying at a metro station’s ticket counter. Before authenticating a one-time PIN provided to their phone number, commuters will be required to fill up basic information in an application form. Commuters must pay a one-time card issuing charge of INR 150 after completing the application process, and then top up the card with a minimum of INR 100 and multiples of INR 100 up to INR 2,000 for hassle-free metro riding. The MAHA card features a one-of-a-kind feature called stored value balance, which allows users to undertake offline transactions at Nagpur Metro stations.
The fare amount will be automatically withdrawn from the card’s stored value balance after the exit tap. Commuters can use Ticket Readers at metro stations to check the balance on their MAHA cards (TRs).
App for Purchasing TicketsÂ
The Nagpur Metro’s official ticketing mobile application makes purchasing tickets simple and easy. It allows visitors to order tickets, search up station information, look up routes, see first and last train schedules, and locate nearby tourist sites. It also allows commuters to contact the metro station and provide feedback on its services and features. The app will provide all important information to Metro riders, including how to purchase a ticket. The app is particularly useful for tourists, since it will take them to the nearest Metro station and sites of interest, as well as providing other information to make transit easier.
Covid-19 InformationÂ
During the pandemic, Maha Metro ensured passenger safety. Trains and stations were regularly disinfected. Before being deposited, the travellers’ cash used to be cleaned with UV light. Passengers were reminded on a daily basis to observe government rules for covid safety. In the event of a future epidemic, only passengers who had taken both doses of Covid-19 vaccination would be permitted to travel by metro. Eligible commuters must additionally present documentation of two vaccine doses to MAHA Metro personnel at the metro station.
Employees and authorities receive medical and other services as needed. Only individuals who have received both covid doses of vaccination are permitted to work. These directives have been adopted on the Aqua and Orange Lines of the Nagpur Metro.
Latest Update
- On October 3, 2022, the state cabinet approved a cost increase of approximately Rs.600 crores for Nagpur Metro Phase 1. This portion of the project was initially approved at a cost of Rs.8,680 Crores. It has now been increased to Rs.9,276.6 crores. Given the rise in the cost of land purchase, the cabinet approved this prolongation. The enhanced funding for Nagpur Metro Phase 1 will also contribute to the construction of two new stations, Cotton Market and Airport South. The authorities had declined this approval five years back while approving other upgrades.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Nagpur Metro Phase 1 and laid the foundation stone for Nagpur Metro Phase II. PM Modi rode in the train with students during the inauguration of the Nagpur metro route. He used the metro from Zero Mile Freedom Park to Khapri Stations. Before boarding the train, he went to Zero Mile Station to see an exhibition about metro projects.
- The Phase II Nagpur metro project will cost roughly Rs 6700 crore. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis laid the foundation stone. The Mahametro Rail Corporation has planned to seek financing from the European Investment Bank and the Asian Development Bank. The authorities have finalised the funding arrangement scheme for the development of Nagpur Metro Phase II.
- The Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank would contribute USD 200 million and $239 million, respectively, according to the final financial plan. The total loan amount could reach Rs. 3,568 crore. The Nagpur Metro Phase II development project will cost approximately Rs.6,700 Crore in total. The Central and State Governments would fund around Rs.3,100 crore of the total sum. Nagpur Metro Phase II construction is projected to be finished by 2026.
- Nagpur Metro Finds a Place in Guinness World Records for Longest Viaduct : The Nagpur metro just gained a place in the coveted Guinness World Records for building the largest double decker viaduct for a metro line. The Nagpur Metro’s Wardha Road section features a 3.14-kilometer-long viaduct. Brajesh Dixit, MD, Maharashtra Metro, received the record certificate from the Guiness World Record management at the felicitation ceremony. He stated that building the viaduct was one of the most difficult aspects of the entire metro project.
- Furthermore, the Asia Book of Records and the India Book of Records have already designated the stretch as the longest viaduct in Asia and India, respectively. The concerned viaduct is a double decker built in collaboration between the National Highways Development Authority (NHAI) and Maharashtra Metro. While the first layer has an existing highway, the second layer has a flyover highway and the third tier has Nagpur metro rail. The flyover roadway is nine metres above ground, while the Nagpur metro level is roughly twenty metres. A similar building is also proposed for Pune’s Ganeshkhind Road.
