India to Receive Five-Year Package to Accelerate Metro Rail Projects Across the Country
The Indian government is poised to announce a significant five-year package for metro rail projects in its upcoming 2025-26 budget. This strategic initiative is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve public transport infrastructure and streamline urban mobility, particularly in rapidly growing cities. Sources familiar with the matter suggest that this multi-year plan will focus on scaling up metro and intercity rapid rail connectivity.
The new package, which is expected to span five years, comes as India’s metro systems are struggling to keep pace with the growing urban population and rising congestion. The Centre has already allocated ₹24,785.94 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal year to support Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and metro projects. A senior official highlighted that the primary goal of this funding is to enhance metro connectivity and ease the transport burden in expanding urban areas.
Officials are confident that by improving metro networks, India can address some of the critical traffic challenges in major cities, thereby making them more livable and reducing the environmental impact of private vehicles. As India’s cities continue to swell, the government’s focus on improving public transportation through metro and rapid rail projects is becoming even more crucial. India’s metro network is already substantial, spanning about 1,000 kilometres across 11 states and 23 cities, with another 985 kilometres under construction. The ambitious five-year plan will aim to more than double this existing metro network, further establishing metro rail as a key part of urban infrastructure. The country, which surpassed Japan in metro rail network length in 2022, is now ranked third globally in terms of metro rail distance. With this continued expansion, India is set to soon have the second-largest metro network in the world.
In addition to the existing projects, the Union Cabinet approved new metro projects in 2024 for major cities, including Delhi, Bengaluru, Thane, and Pune. These approvals are a sign of India’s commitment to expanding metro rail coverage and improving connectivity for commuters in increasingly congested urban areas. The Centre’s initiative aligns with its vision to decongest cities through enhanced and sustainable public transport solutions. By investing heavily in metro infrastructure, the government aims to not only improve urban mobility but also reduce the environmental footprint of urban transport systems. This is expected to lead to cleaner air, less traffic congestion, and a more sustainable transportation model in cities across the country.
Many urban dwellers are eagerly awaiting the expanded metro networks, as they believe it will bring much-needed relief to overcrowded roads and provide a more affordable, efficient alternative to private transportation. The expanding metro systems are particularly expected to benefit office workers, students, and other daily commuters who are currently dependent on increasingly unreliable public buses or face long hours stuck in traffic. There is also a growing anticipation of how the new projects will address accessibility issues, with people hoping for better integration with other forms of transport like buses and intercity trains. Public transport experts are also watching closely to see how the government will ensure the successful implementation of these projects while maintaining quality standards and timelines.
As the metro rail expansion gathers pace, India’s urban transport landscape is on the verge of a major transformation. The upcoming five-year package could be a game-changer, making metro systems more widespread, efficient, and accessible to millions of people. With metro systems in multiple cities set to expand, this strategic push is expected to contribute significantly to reducing the transportation burden in urban areas while fostering cleaner, more sustainable cities for the future. In the next five years, India’s metro rail systems could see unparalleled growth, shaping the country’s cities into more connected, eco-friendly, and modern urban spaces. This package could be the key to addressing some of the most pressing issues of urban congestion and mobility in the years ahead.
