India’s metro rail network grows into the world’s third largest |
New Delhi: From its modest beginnings in Delhi’s suburbs in the early 2000s, India’s metro rail network has transformed into one of the largest and fastest growing in the world. Today, over 1,013 km of metro lines operate across 23 cities, compared to just 248 km in five cities in 2014. Daily ridership has risen from 28 lakh in 2013–14 to more than 1.12 crore in 2025, making metro trains a lifeline for millions.
The pace of expansion has accelerated sharply from just 0.68 km of track added each month before 2014 to about 6 km a month now. The government has also increased its investment, allocating Rs 34,807 crore for 2025–26, more than six times the 2013–14 budget. The Metro Rail Policy 2017 has set clear rules for sustainable and viable projects, including........