INDIA: The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$190m loan to support the development of an 8·6 km underground section of the Indore metro project.
This seven-station section is scheduled to open by January 2030 to link congested areas of the city with the airport.
A multimodal integration study will be conducted to optimise connectivity between the metro and rail and bus services. There will be internship and training programmes to build capacity among women in the transport sector, and commercial spaces at selected stations will be allocated to women entrepreneurs and self-help groups.
The metro project is being implemented by Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corp Ltd. The initial 5·9 km ‘Super Priority Corridor’ opened on June 1, as the first stage of a 31·6 km circular route with 29 stations.
‘Indore’s rapid urbanisation has led to congestion, pollution and limited mobility for vulnerable populations’, said ADB Country Director for India Mio Oka when the loan was announced on October 1. ‘This project will not only modernise public transport but also empower women and marginalised communities through targeted employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.’
