[4][5] The system consists of 2 colour-coded lines serving 36 stations, with a total length of 38.2 kilometres (23.7 mi).

[9] The project was conceived during the year 2012, when cities having population of more than 20 lakh were made eligible for having a metro rail system.

This decision by the government had made 12 cities in India eligible for the metro rail, including Nagpur.

[10] Kamal Nath, then Union minister for urban development, had proposed a metro rail in Nagpur and called for a detailed project report from the state government.

To provide first and last mile connectivity, feeder services such as shuttle buses, battery operated vehicles, pedestrian facilities and bicycle sharing schemes were included in the project.

[15] KfW, a German government-owned development bank, provided loan of ₹3,700 crore (US$430 million) to Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited as a part of fund required for the project, with an additional ₹444 crore (US$51 million) loan for the feeder service and 6 MW solar energy installation at Nagpur Metro stations in partnership with AMPIN Energy Transition.

[18][19] In early 2012 Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) requested DMRC to provide Consultancy services for preparation of a Detailed Project Report for Metro Rail System in Nagpur, Maharashtra initially for 30 km (19 mi) which was revised to 42 km (26 mi) in July 2012.

The original alignment of Corridor-I proposed was passing through Khamla Road, Airport Area after Sahakar Nagar and finally was ending at MIHAN.

This decision changed the alignment, and it was decided that North-South Corridor will pass through Wardha Road after Congress Nagar Metro Station.

MADC land of area 73 ha (180 acres) was available on the west side of railway line and south of existing flyover near Khapri station.

Similarly, Depot of East-West Corridor had also been shifted to SRPF land near proposed Lokmanya Nagar Metro Station.

The matter was discussed in the High court of Nagpur Bench during the hearing of a PIL filled by Nagpur Chamber of Commerce Ltd (NCCL) for early completion of Ram Jhula, the six-lane cable-stayed railway over-bridge near Santra Market that was pending since nine years.

High Court then directed both the parties to submit their plans to superintendent engineer of Public Works Department (PWD), based in Mumbai.

[23] In response, Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, assured that there would be an early resolve on the ongoing conflict between NMRCL and MSRDC.

[24] After some meetings between officials of NMRCL and MSRDC, which Chief Minister facilitated, both parties found a solution on the conflict.

As per the new plan NMRCL jointly decided with Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to lay the metro rail track between two spans of Ramjhula.

This alignment, although technically challenging, renders demolition of part of the Indira Gandhi Government Medical College and Hospital (IGGMCH) unnecessary, and will not disturb the Poddareshwar Ram Temple either.

[32] The Phase II is proposed to be funded with ₹3,122 crore (US$360 million) from Government of Maharashtra & Government of India in the form of equity and the rest amount of ₹3,586 crore (US$410 million) is proposed to be obtained from Asian Development Bank and European Investment Bank as financial assistance.

And passes through 14 m (46 ft) wide stretch of land between the railway boundary line and the road near proposed Container Depot.