India’s Metro Revolution: Third-Largest Network Globally
Source: PIB
GS III: Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports, Railways etc
Overview
- News in Brief
- About the Indian Metro Link
- Comparing the Global Metro network
- Indias Project Overseas
Why in the News?
Metro systems have transformed travel in India. Covering over 1,000 km across 11 states and 23 cities.
News in Brief
- Millions of people rely on them for quick, easy and affordable travel.
- With this growth, India has become home to the third-largest metro network in the world.
- Metros are not just a way to get around—they are changing how we live and move in cities.
About the Indian Metro Link
Historical Miles Stone
- 1969, the initiative for a metro system was launched through the Metropolitan Transport Project.
- Esplanade and Bhowanipur 1984 Kolkata: First metro line in India, covering 3.4 km in West Bengal.
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was established in 1995 with participation from the Government of India and the Government of Delhi.
- Shahdara and Tis Hazari in Delhi 2002: First metro opened by DMRC.
- Namma Metro’s (Bengaluru Metro) 2011: The first segment was built in Karnataka.
- Mumbai Line from Verosva to Ghatkopar 2014: The first metro line starts in Maharashtra.
- Koyambedu to Nehru Park Chennai 2017: First underground section on the Green Line metro in Tamil Nadu.
- Kochi Metro Phase 1 2020: Thykoodam-Petta stretch commissioned in Kerala.
Different types of metro expansion projects
Metro expansion in India has gone beyond just land-based transport, embracing innovative solutions for the future. From under-river tunnels to driverless trains and water metros, India is setting new standards in modern urban mobility.
- Under-Water Metro
- In 2024, PM inaugurated India’s first underwater metro tunnel in Kolkata, where the Esplanade-Howrah Maidan section passes beneath the Hooghly River.
- This remarkable feat showcases India’s engineering capabilities.
- Driverless Metro
- On December 28, 2020, India launched its first-ever driverless metro service on Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line, setting a new benchmark for automation in public transport.
- Kochi Water Metro
- Kochi, Kerala, became the first city in India to launch a Water Metro Project, connecting 10 islands around the city with electric hybrid boats.
- This groundbreaking initiative ensures seamless connectivity, with the first boat launched in December 2021.
Comparing the Global Metro network
- A major milestone in transportation, as metro systems now cover greater distances and serve over 1 crore passengers daily.
- With this growth, India has surpassed Japan in Metro Rail Projects in 2022.
- India ranks third globally in operational Metro network length.
- With the future proposed expansion India become the 2nd largest Metro network in the world.
Indias Project Overseas
- Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is currently overseeing the implementation of a metro system in Bangladesh and has offered consultancy services in Jakarta.
- Countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia (Riyadh), Kenya and El Salvador are also exploring collaborations with DMRC for their metro development projects.
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