The urban transportation sector in India has made notable progress in recent years with the introduction of advanced, sustainable and high speed transit systems. Among the most significant of these are the regional rapid transit system (RRTS) and the water metro, experiencing significant network expansion. This growth has been driven by government support, robust funding and the integration of technology, which have transformed urban mobility and facilitated enhanced and sustainable connectivity within cities.
Rapid strides with RRTS
The RRTS represents a strategic, semi-high-speed regional public transport initiative undertaken by the Indian government for the National Capital Region (NCR). Designed to operate at speeds up to 160 km per hour (kmph) and with a design speed of 180 kmph, the Namo Bharat trains running on RRTS corridors mark a new era of rapid, safe and comfortable regional commuting. The RRTS project is particularly significant for its potential to bypass road congestion, reduce travel costs and substantially cut down travel times. Initially, eight corridors were identified following a study by the National Capital Region Planning Board. Out of these, three corridors were prioritised for early implementation: Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat, and Delhi-Gururam-Rewari-Alwar.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor has emerged as the flagship project. In June 2025, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) successfully conducted full-fledged trial runs on the entire 82 km stretch from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut. These trials tested the hybrid signalling system, platform screen doors at every station, and the train’s integration with tracks and overhead power supply systems. Moreover, the Begumpul and Modipuram stations are nearing completion and are expected to be operational soon. Earlier, in January 2025, the central government inaugurated the 13 km Sahibabad-New Ashok Nagar stretch under the same corridor. This inauguration expanded the operational length to 54 km, covering 11 stations. The corridor now enables passengers to travel between New Ashok Nagar and Meerut South in less than 40 minutes, which is a remarkable reduction in travel time. In October 2025, the Asian Development Bank approved the final loan tranche of Rs 26.5 billion, marking an important financial milestone for the project.
The NCRTC has also achieved significant progress on other corridors. In September 2025, it completed the geotechnical survey of the Greater Noida-Gurugram RRTS project, for which a detailed project report (DPR) is currently being prepared. Spanning 60 km with eight stations, this project is expected to entail an investment of Rs 150 billion. Two other RRTS corridors are also progressing in the planning and pre-construction phases. The Delhi-Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror (SNB) corridor, spanning 102 km, is expected to commence construction in August 2026 and be completed by November 2031 (with the underground section targeted for August 2030 and the elevated section by January 2031). Land acquisition is planned to be completed by November 2027, and consultants and contractors are expected to be appointed before May 2026. The total investment for this project is estimated at Rs 350 billion. Financial participation for the Delhi-SNB corridor reflects a multi-tier model: the central government is likely to bear a cost of around Rs 65 billion, while the state governments of Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan will contribute Rs 19 billion, Rs 44 billion and Rs 0.8 billion respectively. The remaining Rs 190 billion will be raised through multilateral funding agencies. Simultaneously, the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal RRTS, spanning 136 km with an estimated cost of Rs 240 billion, is scheduled to begin construction by January 2026 and be completed by December 2030. Together, these corridors mark a paradigm shift in regional mobility, establishing the NCR as a hub of rapid, sustainable and interconnected transit systems.
Expanding the horizon with water metro projects
India’s commitment to multimodal and sustainable transport is further exemplified by the introduction of water metro systems. A pioneering project in this segment is the Kochi water metro in Kerala, which aims to connect 10 islands over a 78 km route using electric hybrid boats. Building on the success of Kochi’s model, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways approved technical feasibility studies for similar water-based transit systems in 24 cities in April 2025, with a focus on sustainable and energy-efficient operations.
In October 2025, the Kerala government inaugurated the Mattancherry and Willingdon Island terminals under Phase I of the Kochi water metro project. With this, services began on the High Court-Willingdon Island-Mattancherry route. Operations commenced on the Eloor-High Court Junction stretch in April 2025, marking a major milestone in operational expansion. Construction is advancing rapidly, with tendering under way for the Edakochi and Thoppumpady terminals, while works at the Mulavukad North, Kumbalam, Kadamakudy and Paliyamthuruth terminals are nearing completion. The project envisions a fully integrated water transport system covering 78 km across 15 routes. It is funded partly through a loan from KfW Development Bank, with the remainder financed by the state government. The estimated cost of the Kochi water metro stands at around Rs 11 billion.
Inspired by Kerala’s success, other states have begun exploring similar initiatives. In April 2025, the chief minister of Karnataka approved the Mangaluru water metro project, which will connect Bajal and Maravoor across the Netravati and Gurupura rivers. The Karnataka Maritime Board has been directed to prepare the DPR. With this, Karnataka became the second state in India to launch a water metro system. Additionally, Kochi Metro Rail Limited has submitted the feasibility study for the Mumbai water metro project, indicating growing national interest in water-based urban mobility solutions.
Progress under Metrolite and Metroneo
For smaller cities and regions with moderate ridership demand, the government plans to introduce Metrolite and Metroneo systems. These alternatives can provide mass transit benefits similar to conventional metros but at significantly lower capital and operating costs, enhancing accessibility and financial sustainability for smaller urban areas.
Metrolite systems function as light rail transit solutions, often serving as feeder networks to existing metro lines. The trains are typically 33 metres long but can be expanded to meet demand, accommodating a passenger handling capacity of 15,000 peak hour peak direction traffic (PHPDT) by adding more coaches. Several Metrolite projects are currently in the pipeline. The Gorakhpur Metrolite, valued at Rs 46.7 billion, will span 27.4 km, while the Kozhikode Metrolite in Kerala will cover around 13 km. Other proposed cities include Jammu, Srinagar, Guwahati, Chennai and Varanasi. The Visakhapatnam Metrolite project has received DPR approval from the Andhra Pradesh government. Spanning 76.9 km, it is estimated to cost Rs 143.1 billion, marking one of the largest Metrolite undertakings in India.
Complementing Metrolite systems, Metroneo represents an even more economical model designed for Tier II and Tier III cities. It can efficiently manage 8,000 PHPDT, extendable up to 10,000 PHPDT. Metroneo systems are substantially cheaper, with elevated sections costing around Rs 810 million per km, compared to Rs 1.4 billion per km for elevated Metrolite routes. Proposed Metroneo projects include those in Warangal, Rajkot and Pune, as well as a corridor connecting Dehradun, Haridwar and Rishikesh in Uttarakhand.
However, despite initial enthusiasm, progress has been limited. The Nashik Metroneo project, initially proposed for the Nashik Phata-Chakan route, was later revised into a conventional metro. Similarly, in October 2025, the Prayagraj Development Authority and Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited announced plans to replace the proposed Metrolite system with a conventional metro, citing better long-term capacity and urban growth considerations.
Achieving high speed mobility with hyperloop systems
While systems like RRTS and water metro represent the near future of public transport, India is also exploring next-generation high speed technologies, notably the hyperloop. This proposed system uses magnetic levitation and low-pressure vacuum tubes to propel pods at speeds exceeding 1,000 kmph, merging the speed of air travel with the efficiency of rail.
In August 2025, the Maharashtra government signed a strategic agreement with TuTr Hyperloop Private Limited to develop a hyperloop-based cargo transit system connecting Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Navi Mumbai to the upcoming Vadhavan port in Palghar district. The system will leverage linear induction motor (LIM) technology to enable rapid, high-capacity cargo movement, addressing congestion on traditional road and rail routes. That same month, BEML Limited and TuTr Hyperloop entered into a non-binding MoU to collaborate on developing high speed mobility and LIM-based cargo technologies, customised wagons and other advanced transport solutions.
Earlier, in December 2024, IIT Madras’s Avishkar Hyperloop team and TuTr Hyperloop Private Limited completed the construction of India’s first 410 metre hyperloop test track. The project employs pressurised pods capable of transporting 24-28 passengers at high speeds within a low-pressure vacuum environment. The progress of hyperloop research and partnerships demonstrates India’s readiness to pioneer future mobility technologies, potentially revolutionising long-distance travel.
In sum
India’s transportation ecosystem is at the cusp of a major transformation, driven by technological innovation, sustainable infrastructure and strategic regional planning. Projects like the RRTS are redefining intercity travel, while the water metro introduces sustainable, water-based connectivity. Meanwhile, Metrolite and Metroneo systems offer cost-effective urban transit alternatives for smaller cities. Collectively, these initiatives are not only reshaping the nation’s transit infrastructure but also reinforcing India’s commitment to inclusive, environmentally responsible and forward-looking urban development.
