State allows Metro to run, MahaMetro waiting for SOP

Nagpur: The state government in its latest unlock order has allowed Metros in the state to run from October 15. However, Nagpur Metro will not start operating from Thursday as the state urban development department (UDD) is yet to issue the standard operating procedure (SOP).
MahaMetro officials were prepared to start operations from Thursday and waited till late night for the SOP. However, the UDD officials failed to issue it.
Metro managing director Brijesh Dixit said that the agency had kept the system warm and running. “We used to run a train in the morning and evening every day. We can start regular Metro operations any day,” he told TOI.
Dixit said that his next target was ‘Mission One Lakh’. “We want to increase the ridership of Metro to one lakh passengers per day. We will take the help of all organizations to achieve this target,” he added.
The number of operational stations has increased to sixteen with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) clearing four more stations recently – LAD Square, Bansi Nagar, Rahate Colony and Ajni Square.
Six more stations on Reach I (Sitabuldi to Khapri) and Reach III (Sitabuldi to Lokmanya Nagar) will be opened in two months.
If the Metro ridership has to increase then the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will have to start its city bus service. The city buses provide feeder service to the Metro. Dixit said that he expected the bus service would resume soon.
While e-bicycles will be available at Metro stations, e-scooter operators are yet to get permission from the state government. This is a major hurdle in the way of increasing Metro ridership.