MahaMetro got the much-awaited Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) certificate and approval from the Railway board on Tuesday evening paving the way for Metro to begin its commercial operations.
Informing this at a hurriedly convened press conference on Tuesday evening, MahaMetro Managing Director Dr Brijesh Dixit informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Metro through video conferencing from New Delhi on Thursday March 7. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister for Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari will flag off the first train from Airport South station at 7 pm in presence of other dignitaries. The inaugural train will run till Khapri station, Dixit informed.
Prior to flagging off the inaugural train, the dignitaries will inaugurate an exhibition ‘Majhi Metro Dream Coming True’ and release a coffee table book.
MahaMeto has decided to observe March 8 as sabhar divas (acknowledgement day) expressing gratitude towards the people of Nagpur and as a gesture will offer free ride on the day. The details of the schedule of the Metro rides on March 8 will be released by Metro shortly, Dr Dixit said.
The actual commercial run of Metro will begin on March 9 from Khapri to Sitabuldi station and return on a regular basis starting 8 am, the MahaMetro MD informed. For the initial first month, MahaMetro will offer tickets on concessional rates, he said.