Nagpur's Metro rail network is poised for a significant expansion beyond its originally planned scope for Phase 3. Senior officials from MahaMetro have confirmed that the blueprint now includes extending the network to the upcoming New Nagpur area and pushing deeper into the Butibori industrial belt, substantially widening the future reach of the city's mass transit system.
Beyond the Initial Blueprint: Two New Corridors Added
Originally, Phase 3 of the Nagpur Metro was conceptualized primarily as the Sitabuldi-Koradi corridor, designed to strengthen connectivity between the city's core and its fast-growing northern regions. However, planning authorities are now actively working to incorporate two additional corridors under the same phase.
The expanded plan has been formally integrated into the city's Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) and submitted to the government for consideration. This move signals a strategic shift to align metro development with Nagpur's long-term urban growth.
Driving into Butibori's Industrial Heart
Butibori MIDC, which is currently the terminal point for the ongoing Metro Phase 2, is set to get an extended reach. The new proposal envisages an additional 5-kilometer stretch going deeper into the Butibori industrial belt.
Officials state this extension aims to cater to the zone's growing industrial activity, streamline daily workforce movement, and support future residential development anticipated in the area. This direct connectivity is expected to be a major boost for the industrial hub's logistics and employee convenience.
Linking to the Future: The New Nagpur Greenfield Project
A key highlight of the expanded Phase 3 plan is the proposed link to New Nagpur. This is a major greenfield urban project being planned near the Samruddhi Mahamarg circle, with the Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) leading the development. It is projected to emerge as a major residential, commercial, and institutional hub in the coming years.
"The proposed Metro alignment will branch out near the Metro City stations of Phase 2, extending towards New Nagpur," explained a senior MahaMetro official. Sources indicate that the NIT formally shared its master plan for New Nagpur with MahaMetro, prompting the transit authority to align its long-term network expansion accordingly.
Next Steps and Procedural Hurdles
While the expanded Phase 3 plan is ready at the conceptual level, its procedural timeline is currently on hold. The Model Code of Conduct (MCC), enforced due to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation elections, has temporarily affected progress.
MahaMetro officials are waiting for the MCC to be lifted, which is likely to happen in about a month. Immediately after that, the agency plans to float tenders for preparing the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for the newly added corridors. The DPRs are crucial documents that will outline the technical feasibility, cost, and timeline for the proposed extensions, marking the next concrete step towards making this expanded vision a reality.
