Mumbai, Oct. 29 -- Bhopal Metro is spending an estimated Rs. 3.8-4.8 mn a week on operations and maintenance, while low passenger numbers keep fare income well below costs. The financial gap is placing pressure on the nearly 7 km priority corridor as the system waits for a wider network to attract regular commuters.

Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRCL) Managing Director S Krishna Chaitanya has estimated annual operating and maintenance costs at Rs. 200-250 mn. That equates to about Rs. 0.55-0.68 mn a day, while estimated weekday ridership ranges from 150 to 500 passengers and weekend use reaches up to 1,500.

At an assumed average fare of Rs. 50, ticket receipts remain substantially below daily expenditure. The figures are estimates rather than audited financial data, and MPMRCL's public relations officer did not provide updated passenger numbers. Services increased from nine trips a day to about 20 in July, but no current data is available to show whether the change produced sustained growth.

The priority corridor runs nearly 7 km between AIIMS and Subhash Nagar, with eight stations, and opened in December 2025. Its limited coverage restricts its usefulness for cross-city travel. During the initial operating period, ridership rose from 275 passengers on January 15 to nearly 1,000 on January 18, while 3,350 passengers used the system between January 13 and 20; these figures do not represent current usage.

With fares unable to cover costs at present passenger levels, MPMRCL is pursuing advertising, commercial leasing, semi-naming rights and events. A November 2025 tender offered advertising space on more than 700 pillars, while commercial sites covering about 620 square metres at Board Office Chauraha and 2,470 square metres at Subhash Nagar were offered for use. Celebration on Wheels allows coaches and selected station areas to be hired for private events, photography and filming, although early bookings were limited.

The system's longer-term viability depends on network expansion, connectivity and service frequency. Wider coverage expected by 2028 could enlarge the catchment area, but non-fare initiatives alone are unlikely to close a substantial operating gap without sustained passenger growth. MPMRCL must therefore balance current service costs with the need to build demand before expansion.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.