Hire Metro coaches for B’day parties, pre-wedding shoots in Indore & Bhopal

Indore: Faced with dwindling ridership and mounting operational losses, the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MPMRCL) has come up with an unusual fix — renting out its metro coaches for birthday parties, small get-togethers, pre-wedding shoots and documentary filming in both Indore and Bhopal.

The move reflects the financial pressure the corporation has been under since both metro networks failed to attract the number of passengers originally anticipated. The Indore Metro, for instance, currently runs on a 6-km ‘Super Priority Corridor’ that has been witnessing a revenue deficit owing to poor footfall.

It is against this backdrop that the corporation has launched what it is calling ‘Celebration on Wheels’ — a policy that opens up metro coaches as rentable spaces for social and creative events, as a way of generating non-fare revenue.

MPMRCL managing director S Krishna Chaitanya acknowledged the ridership issue when speaking to TOI. “The policy is designed to align with the urban environments of Bhopal and Indore. The initiative aims to integrate metro services into the daily lives of citizens by providing a modern and organised setting for celebrations,” he said, while also accepting that addressing financial deficits was a significant driver behind the decision.

Under the policy, a static coach can be hired at Rs 5,000 per hour, while a moving, undecorated coach will cost Rs 7,000 per hour. Participants beyond a set number will be charged as per standard MPMRCL fare rules and applicable fees.

Chaitanya said that a 17-km-long Priority Corridor from Gandhi Nagar to Radisson Station has received CMRS approval and is expected to boost ridership once inaugurated.

Until then, the corporation appears to be counting on initiatives like this to keep its books from slipping further into the red.

Those wishing to book will need to apply at least 15 days in advance on a first-come, first-served basis. Private gatherings will be capped at 50 people per coach, and a refundable security deposit of Rs 20,000 per coach will be required.

Applications can be submitted in person at metro offices — at Gandhi Nagar in Indore and the Administrative Building at Subhash Nagar Depot in Bhopal — or through official email channels.

The corporation has put in place strict conditions to ensure safety and order. Mandatory security screening will be required for all participants. Flammable materials, fire-based decorations, alcohol and smoking are strictly prohibited inside the coaches, and organisers will be held financially responsible for any damage caused during the event.
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