Nagpur: Nagpur Metro has been allocated Rs150 crore in the Maharashtra government’s budget for 2026-27, with the state simultaneously unveiling an ambitious long-term roadmap to expand Metro rail networks across its major cities to around 1,200km by 2047. The allocation has been made under the head ‘Equity of State Government in Nagpur Metro Rail Project’, according to the budget documents. Even last year, Rs150 crore was allocated for the Nagpur Metro project. Against this broader vision, senior officials from MahaMetro indicated that Nagpur’s Metro network could eventually expand to 150km by 2047.Presenting the state budget on Friday, CM Devendra Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra aims to develop around 1,200km of Metro network by 2047. Metro works spanning about 490km have already been initiated across the three major cities in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur.” Of this, around 173km of Metro network is currently operational, while another 50km is expected to become operational in the coming year. The govt also expects an additional 165km to be operational by 2029 as ongoing projects progress.A senior MahaMetro official said that based on the current trajectory and the state’s broader expansion plans, Nagpur Metro network could grow significantly over the next two decades. “Considering the current situation in the three major cities and the existing Metro network, a rough understanding of the state’s 1,200km target suggests that the Metro rail in Nagpur may eventually go beyond 150km against 40km which is operational at present.“The official clarified that these figures are indicative estimates rather than final projections, as the scale of expansion will depend on urban growth, ridership demand and future infrastructure proposals. “At this stage, giving an exact number would be premature,” the official said.Currently, Phase-I of Nagpur Metro project is operational, covering about 40km of network. Phase-II, spanning around 44km, is under construction, with work progressing on multiple stretches. Officials said planning for the next stage of expansion has also begun. Tenders have been floated for preparing the detailed project report for Phase-III, which is expected to add around 55km of new corridors to the network.“With Phase-I operational and Phase-II under implementation, the proposed Phase-III will take the total metro network in Nagpur to nearly 130km. Beyond that, further expansion will depend on future mobility needs,” the official added.
