India’s metro network is only 216 km short of US: From a single Kolkata line in 1984 to 1,170 km across 26 cities, next big expansion is already underway

India’s metro rail network has travelled a remarkable distance since the country’s first service began in Kolkata in 1984. What started with a single short stretch has evolved into a nationwide urban transport network spanning more than 1,155 km across 26 cities.

Government data cited in a TOI report shows that India had only 248 km of operational metro network across five cities in 2014. By March 2026, the network had expanded to around 1,155 km across 26 cities, making it the world’s third-largest operational metro network.

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The latest expansion came in Indore, where a new 11-km section was inaugurated on September 5, taking the city’s operational metro network to around 17 km and 16 stations.

India metro network: From Kolkata to 26 cities

India’s metro journey began in Kolkata in 1984. For several years, metro rail remained limited to a small number of cities, with the Delhi Metro later becoming a major turning point in the country’s urban transport story.

By 2014, operational metro services covered just five cities and 248 km. Since then, expansion has accelerated, with metro systems reaching cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow, Nagpur, Pune, Kanpur, Agra, Bhopal and Indore.

Bhopal became the 26th Indian city with an operational metro network when services began there in December 2025. At the time, the country's total operational metro network had reached about 1,090 km.

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How quickly has India’s metro network grown?

The pace of metro construction has changed significantly over the past decade.

According to government data, the average rate of metro commissioning increased from around 0.68 km per month before 2014 to nearly 6 km per month in the subsequent period. Daily ridership also rose sharply, from around 28 lakh passengers in 2013-14 to more than 1.15 crore in 2026.

The financial commitment to metro infrastructure has grown alongside the network. Annual budgetary support increased from around Rs 5,798 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 29,550 crore in 2025-26, according to government data.

Delhi remains at the centre of India’s metro network

While metro services have spread across the country, Delhi-NCR remains one of India's biggest urban rail clusters.

The Delhi Metro network extends across Delhi as well as parts of neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, connecting residential areas, commercial centres and employment hubs across the National Capital Region.

Other large systems are also expanding. Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kolkata have developed extensive networks, while cities such as Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur and Lucknow continue to add new corridors.

The expansion is no longer restricted to India's largest metros. Tier-II cities are increasingly becoming part of the country's urban rail map.

New metro projects are already under construction

India's metro expansion is far from over. Government data shows that significant lengths of metro corridors remain under construction, with projects spread across several cities. The MoHUA dashboard currently lists 791 km of metro lines under construction across 27 cities.

Major projects include extensions in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune, Kochi, Bhopal and Indore, along with new networks in cities that are still developing their metro systems.

The pipeline means India's metro footprint could continue expanding substantially over the coming years. However, completion dates can vary depending on construction progress, land acquisition, funding and other project-related factors.

Indore metro expansion shows the next phase

Indore offers a snapshot of how the metro network is moving beyond India's traditional metropolitan centres.

On September 5, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal inaugurated the city's Priority Corridor-2. The newly opened section is around 11 km long with 11 stations and was developed at an estimated cost of Rs 2,850 crore.

The expansion took Indore's operational network to approximately 17 km with 16 stations. The cumulative project cost for the city's metro network is around Rs 4,370 crore, according to the government.

India’s metro growth is not just about kilometres

The rapid increase in track length is only one measure of India's urban transport transformation.

Passenger numbers are another important indicator. Government figures show daily metro ridership has climbed to more than 1.15 crore passengers.

For established networks such as Delhi, metro rail has become an important part of daily commuting. Newer systems, meanwhile, need time to build passenger demand as additional corridors open and networks become more connected.

This makes network integration particularly important. A metro line becomes more useful when passengers can easily connect it with buses, suburban rail, regional trains, walking and other forms of transport.

Namo Bharat adds a regional dimension

India's urban rail expansion is also moving beyond conventional metro systems.

The Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor introduced a regional rapid transit model designed to connect major urban centres with surrounding cities and towns. The service began operations in October 2023 and is designed for speeds of up to 160 kmph.

This creates a broader urban transport ecosystem in which different rail systems serve different travel needs, metro services for frequent city journeys and regional rapid transit for longer-distance connections.

India’s metro network is becoming more diverse

The country's urban transport story now includes several different forms of rail and water-based public transport.

Kolkata opened India's first underwater metro tunnel beneath the Hooghly in 2024, while Kochi introduced the country's first Water Metro system, using boats to connect islands and the mainland. Government data lists these developments among India's recent urban mobility milestones.

Together, these projects show how Indian cities are experimenting with different transport models to address congestion, connectivity and growing travel demand.

The challenge now is to make every kilometre count

India's metro network has grown from a single Kolkata line to more than 1,155 km across 26 cities. The government has also continued to expand the construction pipeline, with hundreds of kilometres currently being built.

But the next stage of the metro story will not be measured only by kilometres added. Passenger demand, last-mile connectivity, integration with other public transport, affordability and the financial sustainability of individual systems will also determine how effectively these networks serve India's rapidly growing cities.

The transformation is already substantial. The question now is how India's expanding metro network can become an even more integrated part of everyday urban life.


Inputs from TOI