New Delhi: With rapid urbanization, the pressure is mounting on the public transport system from the people living in cities and towns across the country. Mass Rapid Transport System, MRTS has emerged as one of the most effective means of mobility for the citizens in tier-1 and tier-2 cities and Metro has been a major player.
Metro Today-
Currently 585 km of Metro lines are operational. Approximately another 60 km of metro lines are likely to be opened in the next one month in the cities of Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Nagpur and Ghaziabad.
With a modest beginning with 8 km in 2002, modern metro rail have shown phenomenal growth in the country.
In the current financial year (2018-19), 140 km of metro lines have been opened for the public (till 10 February 2019).
Out of the 585 km of operational metro lines as on 10 February 2019, 326 km have been made operational after May 2014.
Since May 2014, 258 km of metro line have been sanctioned by the Govt. of India.
Currently there is about 600 km of sanctioned metro lines under construction which will be operational in next five years.
There are about 1000 km of metro line proposals under planning.
Govt. of India has taken various steps for standardization and growth of metro rail in India. The Metro Rail Policy 2017 of Govt. of India enables rapid and sustainable growth of metro rail in the country.
METRO PROGRESS IN INDIA (As on 10.02.2019)
Operational: 585 km
Delhi & NCR (327km)
Noida-Greater Noida -29.7 km
Bangalore (42.3 km)
Hyderabad (46 km)$
Kolkata Metro (27.3 km)
Chennai (45 km)
Jaipur (9.6 km)@
Kochi (18.2 km)
Lucknow (8.5 km)
Mumbai Metro Line 1 (11.4 km) *
Rapid Metro Gurgaon (12 km)**
Mumbai Mono Rail Phase-1 (9.00 km)
Under Construction Metro/MRTS Projects: 622 km
Delhi and NCR including extensions (23 km)
Kolkata (108 km)
Bangalore (72 km)
Chennai (10 km)
Kochi (7.5 km)
Jaipur (2.5 km)
Mumbai (171 km)
Hyderabad (26 km)
Nagpur (38 km)
Ahmadabad (36 km)
Lucknow (14 km)
Pune (54 km)
Bhopal (28 km)
Indore (32 km)
Regional Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS): 373.15 km – Under Planning
Delhi- Meerut (82.15 km)
Delhi- Panipat (111 km)
Delhi- Alwar (180 km)
$ PPP project of Government of Telangana
@Fully owned by Government of Rajasthan
*PPP project of Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA)
** Private initiative
#Including 11 km of Mumbai Monorail ph2 and other metro projects of MMRDA sanctioned by State Governments of Maharashtra
## Including expansion of Kolkata metro sanctioned by Ministry of Railways
Metro Projects have not only added to connectivity, it has reduced the travel time and hence enhanced the ease of living substantially in the urban areas. It has also led to creation of direct and indirect employment opportunities. It is expected that with the expansion of Metros in the cities, local and intercity travel will be easier, mobility and connectivity will be enhanced giving a fillip to local business as well.
