The current daily ridership for urban metro networks in India stands at over 11.5 million, underlining the growing role of such networks in urban mobility. Over the past year, the sector marked several milestones, including the commissioning of new metro stretches such as Bengaluru’s Yellow Line and Mumbai Metro’s Aqua Line 3 extension, Line 9 and Line 2B. Moreover, the 82.15 km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor became fully operational. A look at the key developments in the urban transportation sector in the past year…
Budget allocation and funding
- Metro rail and mass rapid transit system projects received an allocation of Rs 309.4 billion in Union Budget 2026-27, including grants for metro rail projects.
- In March 2026, the Japan International Cooperation Agency signed two official development assistance loan agreements worth Rs 55.3 billion (JPY 92.4 billion) for the Mumbai Metro Line 11 Project (Phase I) and Rs 61.3 billion (JPY 102.48 billion) for the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project (Phase III) (I).
- In December 2025, the Asian Development Bank extended a second loan tranche for the Chennai Metro Rail Investment Project, worth $240 million, for metro expansion across three metro lines with a corridor spanning 20 km. The bank also extended $190 million for the Indore Metro Rail Project in October 2025 for the construction of an 8.6-km underground metro line.
Metro rail network expansion
Completion and inaugurations
In August 2026, the Mandale-Chembur stretch under the Mumbai Metro Phase I Line 2B Project (DN Nagar-Mankhurd-Mandale-Cheetah Nagar) was inaugurated; the 12.3-km Majlis Park-Maujpur stretch and the 9.9-km Deepali Chowk-Majlis Park stretch of Delhi Metro Phase IV were inaugurated in March 2026; the 23.6-km Partapur-Modipuram stretch of Meerut Metro was inaugurated in February 2026; and 27 km of the New Ashok Nagar-Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut-South Modipuram stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS project was inaugurated in February 2026.
Upcoming projects
- Foundation stones were laid for two corridors (JP Nagar Phase IV-Kempapura and Hosahalli-Kadabagere) of the Bengaluru Metro Rail Project Phase III in August 2025; and the Jaipur Metro Rail Project Phase II in July 2026.
- The centre approved the Pinjrapole Gaushala-Todi Mod stretch of the Jaipur Metro Rail Project Phase II in April 2026; the Noida-Greater Noida Metro Rail Project (Aqua Line Extension) in February 2026; and extension of Phase V of the Delhi Metro Rail Project in December 2025.
- State approvals were granted for the Poonamallee-Sunguvarchatram Metro Rail under the Chennai Metro Phase II Extension Project in August 2026; the Navi Mumbai Metro Rail Project and the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal Regional Rapid Transit System in March 2026; and Pune Metro Rail Project Phase II in November 2025.
- The Public Investment Board approved the 60-km Ahmedabad Metro Rail Project Phase III in August 2026. Further, approval was granted for the 36-km extension of the Delhi-Gurugram-Bawal RRTS Project to Behror in July 2026.
Update on emerging modes
- The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) in August 2026 submitted a revised detailed project report for the 72.4-km Ghaziabad-Jewar Airport RRTS project to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA). In-principle approval for the 150-km Delhi-Haridwar RRTS corridor was granted by the centre in July 2026; the Bihar government in July 2026 gave in-principle approval for four RRTS corridors; and NCRTC completed the survey for the 93.5-km Delhi-Bawal stretch in June 2026.
- In August 2026, Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited proposed the Nashik Light Metro Rail Project, which will be developed in two phases.
- In the water metro segment, the centre has devised two phases to roll out water metros across 18 cities. Additionally, the draft National Water Metro Policy, 2026 was circulated for interministerial consultations.
Advances in rolling stock
- In April 2026, Delhi Metro started carrying out mid-life refurbishment of 70 Red and Blue Line trains procured under Phase I.
- In December 2025, Titagarh Rail Systems rolled out the first driverless Made-in-India trainset for Phase II of Ahmedabad Metro.
- In August 2025, BEML laid the foundation stone for its Rs 18 billion state-of-the-art metro rail coach and rolling stock manufacturing unit in Umaria, Madhya Pradesh.
Focus on mixed-use development
- MoHUA released the Regulations for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and Charges in April 2026, which promotes planned, sustainable and transit-linked urban growth, particularly along metro corridors.
- In October 2025, NCRTC started implementing the TOD policy along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut rapid rail corridor.
- In September 2025, the Urban Development Department of Jaipur unveiled a draft TOD policy.
