NAGPUR (Metro Rail News): Nagpur Metro’s network is set to expand. The Maharashtra government’s infrastructure committee has approved a new extension of the Phase-II North Corridor from Kanhan River to Kanhan town.
The proposal was prepared by Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (Maha-Metro), and according to The Economics Times report, It received approval from the state’s infrastructure sub-committee led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. The project will extend the metro line by 1.4 km at an estimated cost of Rs 310.35 crore. The extension will include an elevated metro station at Kanhan town.
Need of this extension
Kanhan is located on the outskirts of Nagpur and it has a population of around 35,000. Every day, about 5,000 to 6,000 people travel between Kanhan and Nagpur for work, education, and other activities. With the metro reaching the town, commuters will have a faster and more convenient way to travel. The project will also improve access to nearby locations, such as:
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- Ramtek
- Tekdi
- Kandri Mines
- Nagardhan
- Gondegaon Mines
- Mauda Super Thermal Power Project
According to the proposal, the extension could serve nearly 20,000 more passengers every day.
Funding mechanism
The project will depend on both government support and external financing.
| Funding Source | Amount |
| Central Government Equity | Rs 39.88 cr |
| Maharashtra Government Equity | Rs 39.88 cr |
| Concessional Multilateral Loans | Rs 155.18 cr |
| Other Support | Interest free subordinate debt from the Centre and State Government |
Part of Nagpur Metro’s expansion plan
The Kanhan Town extension is part of the ongoing Phase-II expansion of Nagpur Metro. This expansion aims to improve public transport connections between Nagpur and the rapidly growing residential, industrial, and employment areas around the city. The new section will push the metro network further north and strengthen connections for commuters traveling to and from Nagpur.
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It is encouraging that the Kanhan Metro extension is being considered, as it will greatly benefit local residents, daily wage earners, students, and office-going employees by providing better connectivity.
However, I would like to respectfully draw the attention of Hon’ble Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis to the performance of the existing Phase-I of Nagpur Metro. Since its commissioning on 11 December 2022, the system has still not achieved the ridership projected in the Detailed Project Report (DPR), which was approximately 2.5 lakh passengers per day, along with the planned train headway of 3–5 minutes.
It is noteworthy that during January 2023 (up to 26 January), even before the commissioning of Cotton Market and Indora Chowk Metro stations, the daily ridership was reportedly in the range of 1.25–1.50 lakh passengers. This indicates that the focus should now be on increasing patronage and optimizing the existing network to its full potential.
The primary objective of introducing a Metro system is not only to provide comfortable public transport but also to significantly reduce dependence on private vehicles, thereby easing road congestion, improving road safety, and reducing pollution. Unfortunately, in Nagpur, heavy traffic continues to be observed along both the Orange Line and Aqua Line corridors. As a result, congestion persists, and road accidents continue to claim precious human lives despite the city’s well-developed road infrastructure and urban planning.
Therefore, while future Metro expansion is welcome, equal priority should be given to:
* Increasing ridership on the existing Phase-I network.
* Enhancing service frequency in line with demand.
* Encouraging a shift from private vehicles to Metro through better integration, awareness, and commuter-friendly policies.
A stronger focus on maximizing the utilization of the existing Metro system will ensure better returns on public investment while achieving the larger objective of safe, sustainable, and efficient urban mobility for Nagpur.