New Delhi, March 16: Over the past eleven years, India’s metro rail network has grown from five cities to 26, crossing 1,000 km and becoming the third largest globally.
Since 2014, 38 metro projects worth Rs 3.44 lakh crore have been sanctioned, with the annual metro budget rising from Rs 5,798 crore in 2013–14 to Rs 29,550 crore in 2025–26.
The expansion has improved urban mobility, offering faster, cleaner, and more reliable travel while easing road congestion. Metro investments are driving economic growth, supporting jobs, improving access to education and healthcare, and reducing household transport costs.
A study by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister highlights tangible financial benefits: in Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, loan repayment delays have fallen, while early mortgage repayments have increased.
Metro services now operate in major cities including Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow, Pune, and Ahmedabad. Kerala’s Kochi introduced India’s first Water Metro in April 2023, connecting 10 islands via eco-friendly electric-hybrid boats.
Advanced technologies, such as the Hybrid level-III LTE radio-based signalling system on the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS corridor, are enhancing operational safety, efficiency, and sustainability, setting new standards for urban transit in India.
