Metro projects in Bhopal and Indore commenced around the same time, but the Bhopal Metro project is currently lagging behind the Indore Metro project due to various pressing reasons. While the Indore Metro project is expected to begin commercial operations within this fiscal year, it is unlikely that the Bhopal Metro will be operational this year. A senior officer of the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation indicated that, based on the progress, there is an initial plan for the Indore Metro to start commercial operations sometime between December and March of this financial year. In contrast, the Bhopal Metro's commercial operations are expected to begin by September of next year, meaning that residents of Bhopal will have to wait at least another year to experience the Metro.

The construction of a road over bridge (ROB) under the Bhopal Metro project is proving to be a particularly challenging task, consuming more time than anticipated and thus delaying the project's progress. Regarding the Indore Metro, out of the 25 sanctioned metro train sets, seven have already arrived in Indore, with one set reaching the city on Sunday. For Bhopal, 25 metro trains have also been sanctioned, with five sets delivered so far and two more expected by around December. Sources from the MP Metro Rail Corporation Limited noted that Indore, being a densely populated city, requires a metro system to reduce vehicle congestion and ease traffic flow. In contrast, Bhopal, with its vast landscape, is seeing various ongoing works in different areas, including Karond. Meanwhile, regular testing of metro train sets is ongoing, with one set achieving a speed of 90 km per hour.