The Bhopal Metro was inaugurated on December 20 by Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav and Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, with services opening to the public on December 21. While the project was launched amid considerable public enthusiasm, passenger numbers have steadily declined since the first week of operations.
According to Metro Corporation figures, the system recorded 6,568 passengers on the first day of commercial service, generating revenue of ₹2.05 lakh. However, ridership dipped sharply in the following days. On December 30, the metro recorded its lowest turnout, with just 967 passengers. While numbers rose briefly on holidays and weekends—4,264 commuters travelled on Christmas Day—weekday ridership has remained consistently low.
In response to poor demand, metro authorities revised both operational hours and the number of daily trips within 14 days of launch. From January 3, services now begin at noon instead of 9 am, with the last train departing AIIMS station at 7.30 pm. Even after these adjustments, ridership has shown no significant improvement, except on Sundays.
Between January 13 and 20, around 3,350 passengers used the metro, averaging just over 400 per day. On several weekdays, including January 13, 15 and 19, daily ridership fell below 300. On January 15, only 275 passengers boarded metro services, highlighting the scale of the challenge.
Officials attribute the low turnout to limited operational hours, partial route coverage and the absence of commuter incentives during the launch phase. Unlike Indore Metro, which offered free rides during its initial days and recorded nearly 26,000 passengers on its first day, Bhopal Metro charged fares from day one.
Financially, the current ridership is insufficient to sustain operations. While daily fare collections average around ₹10,000, the cost of running the system is estimated at nearly ₹1 lakh per day. Metro officials said plans are underway to introduce monthly passes, along with concessional fares for students and senior citizens, to attract regular commuters.
The Metro Corporation is also exploring non-fare revenue options, including ATMs, food courts and commercial zones at stations. Officials remain hopeful that ridership will increase as connectivity improves and public familiarity with the system grows.
