India Adds 700km to Metro Network Over Last Decade, Says Khattar

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that 700 km of new metro lines have been operationalised in the last decade, increasing the total track length to 945 km. Metro services now span 21 cities, compared to just five cities before 2014.

Khattar mentioned that prior to 2014, only 600 metres of metro line were constructed monthly. This rate has now increased tenfold to six km per month, reflecting the government's commitment to urban development under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Expansion of Metro Rail Network

The Union Cabinet recently approved metro rail projects for Pune, Thane, and Bengaluru. With these approvals, India now has 1,018 km of metro lines under construction. Khattar noted that India ranks third globally in operational metro network length, behind China and the US.

Khattar highlighted that India has developed four state-of-the-art facilities for manufacturing metro coaches. Over the past five years, these facilities have produced more than 1,000 metro coaches, supporting various metro systems across the country.

International Interest in India's Metro Expertise

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is currently implementing a metro system in Bangladesh and has provided consultancy services in Jakarta. Countries like Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and El Salvador have also shown interest in partnering with DMRC for their metro projects.

Khattar assured that the remaining two priority corridors connecting Gurugram, Manesar and Dharuhera, and Sonepat and Panipat will soon be sanctioned. He flagged resistance from the Delhi government as a cause of delay but remained optimistic about progress.

Hours after Khattar's claim, the Delhi government issued a statement denying any delay on its part. "So much money has been given by the Delhi government, which has not even been spent yet. No file is pending with us. Therefore, it is wrong to say the project has been delayed due to the Delhi government," the statement read.

Khattar attributed India's success in expanding its metro network to the Make in India initiative championed by Modi. He said India is poised to surpass the US and become second only to China in terms of operational metro network length.

In addition to domestic achievements, Khattar spoke about international interest in India's expertise in metro rail systems. The DMRC's involvement in international projects highlights India's growing influence in this sector.

India's metro rail system was limited to just 248 km before 2014. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made with an additional 700 km of new lines becoming operational.

The minister emphasised that prior to 2014, metro services were available only in five cities. Now, they are operational in 21 cities across the country.

With these developments, India continues to advance its urban infrastructure significantly. The expansion of metro services reflects a broader commitment to improving public transportation and urban mobility across the nation.