Indora Metro station’s opening delayed again.

Residents of Indora and nearby localities will have to wait longer to board a metro from their area as the opening of the Indora Metro station has been delayed again, marking the second delay in the last four months.

A senior metro official stated that although the station is nearly complete, with only final touches remaining, it cannot commence operations without mandatory approval from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). The CMRS team is expected to inspect the Indora Metro station in the first week of August.

The Indora station, part of Metro Phase 1 which became fully operational in December 2022, faced delays due to land acquisition issues. The land acquisition process for Phase 1 began in 2016, but land for the Indora station wasn’t acquired until October 2022. Construction began in November 2022, with an initial operational deadline set for April 2024. After missing this deadline, it was extended to mid-June 2024. With the second deadline also missed, officials now anticipate the station will become operational in August.

Situated in the north-south corridor of the Orange Line, which runs from Khapri to Automotive Square, the Indora Metro station is eagerly awaited by commuters for its promise of convenient travel options. Indora station lies two stops before Automotive Square. According to metro data, the nearby Kadbi and Nari Road metro stations serve around 2,000 passengers daily, with an estimated 500 to 700 commuters traveling to these stations due to Indora's non-operational status.

The delays have caused frustration among residents and commuters, especially during the monsoon season when waterlogged roads lead to traffic jams. Many commuters are compelled to use alternative, more expensive transportation options, further straining their daily budgets.

Pramod Bhagchandani, a 52-year-old private accountant living near the Indora metro station, expressed his frustration: “The construction work has been ongoing for many years. All the residents of the area are suffering, and our problems have doubled because of the monsoon season. The rains are creating problems like waterlogging below the construction area, causing problems for us.

Bhagchandani added that the lack of last-mile connectivity is straining the monthly budgets of many like him. “We have to deboard at the nearest station and travel by cabs and autos for short distances. The cost of traveling is unavoidable since it is a daily necessity. Many issues faced by daily travelers would be solved if Indora Metro station starts functioning,” he said.

ET