Why in News ?
- As of 2025, India’s metro rail network crossed 1,000 km, expanding from just 248 km in 2014, making India the world’s 3rd largest metro system (after China and the U.S.) — as per the Press Information Bureau (PIB).
- Daily ridership has surged 4x in a decade, indicating rapid urban transit transformation and growing public adoption.
Relevance:
- GS-3 (Infrastructure & Economy): Urban transport development, public infrastructure growth, and economic multiplier impacts.
- GS-2 (Governance & Policy): Urban mobility policies — Metro Rail Policy (2017), Smart Cities Mission, AMRUT 2.0, and PM Gati Shakti.
Background & Evolution
- 2002: India’s first modern metro system launched in Delhi.
- 2014: 5 cities, 248 km network.
- 2025: 23 cities, >1,000 km operational; 20+ cities under construction or planning phase.
- Represents one of the fastest urban transit expansions globally, driven by Make in India and Smart Cities Mission integration.
Leading Metro Systems (Operational Length, 2025)
| City | Network Length (km) | Daily Ridership (approx.) |
| Delhi | 394 | 65 lakh |
| Bengaluru (Namma Metro) | 96 | 10 lakh |
| Mumbai | 80.2 | 8.5 lakh |
| Kolkata | 74 | 6 lakh |
| Hyderabad | 69.2 | 4.7 lakh |
| Chennai | 54 | 3.19 lakh |
| Pune | 33.2 | 2.18 lakh |
- Kolkata Metro (2024): India’s first underwater metro tunnel under the Hooghly River, a major engineering milestone.
- Delhi Metro: Among the world’s top 10 busiest metro systems; benchmark for urban transit governance (DMRC model).
Fare Structure & Economics
- Minimum fare: ₹10 (standard across metros).
- Distance-based pricing:
- Chennai: ₹2.14/km
- Ahmedabad-Gandhinagar: ₹1.2/km
- Fare caps:
- Bengaluru Metro: ₹90 max for 30+ km.
- Many metros adopt integrated ticketing, digital passes, and NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) to promote cashless, seamless travel.
Institutional Framework
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).
- Implementing Agencies:
- DMRC model (Delhi): Public sector SPV.
- PPP models: Hyderabad, Mumbai.
- Metro Railways (Amendment) Act, 2020 – enabled private participation, multi-modal integration, and urban transport planning reforms.
Policy & Programmatic Support
- National Urban Transport Policy (2006, updated 2021): Shift from “moving vehicles” to “moving people.”
- Metro Rail Policy (2017):
- Mandates financial viability, PPP participation, and last-mile connectivity plans.
- Make in India Initiative:
- 80% metro coaches now domestically manufactured (e.g., BEML, Alstom, Titagarh).
- National Common Mobility Card (NCMC): Interoperable payments across metros, buses, and rail.
- Urban Infrastructure Schemes:
- AMRUT 2.0, Smart Cities Mission, and PM Gati Shakti support urban mobility integration.
Economic & Environmental Impact
- Urban productivity gains: Reduces congestion and fuel loss; Delhi Metro saves ~3.4 lakh tonnes of CO₂ annually.
- Job creation: ~10 lakh direct & indirect jobs (construction, operation, maintenance).
- Transit-oriented development (TOD): Catalyzing real estate and commercial activity near metro corridors.
Challenges
- High capital costs: Average ₹250–300 crore/km for underground corridors.
- Operational losses: Low farebox recovery (<60% in many cities).
- Last-mile connectivity gaps: Poor feeder bus, pedestrian, and cycling infrastructure.
- Ridership disparities: Newer metros (Nagpur, Lucknow) underperform compared to capacity.
Future Outlook
- Under-construction: ~700 km more by 2030 (Ahmedabad, Indore, Surat, Agra, Patna, etc.).
- Tier-2 city expansion: Nashik, Coimbatore, Dehradun, Varanasi in planning.
- Integration with Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS): Delhi–Meerut corridor (2026).
- Goal: 2,000 km operational network by 2030, aligned with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities) and India@2047 urban mobility vision.
