India's Metro Systems: Billions Spent, But Commuters Remain Elusive

Mon Apr 20 2026 01:32:19 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Despite investing over $26 billion in metro rail systems across India, the anticipated ridership is significantly lower than expected. This article explores the factors contributing to the low usage of these extensive metro networks.

India has invested substantially in metro rail networks, expecting to alleviate urban congestion and provide efficient public transport options across major cities. However, actual commuter numbers fall drastically short of projections due to various challenges, including high fares, inadequate demand projections, poor connectivity, and safety concerns. As traffic congestion worsens, the need for improved metro systems becomes increasingly essential.

On a weekday evening last month, Mumbai's southbound Aqua Line metro train nearly emptied out a couple of stops before the final one. Upon deboarding, the last station bore the look of a desolate Soviet-era structure rather than a bustling train terminal in a city where crowds typically jostle for space.

The Aqua Line is the city's new fully underground metro train connecting the old business district of Cuffe Parade to newer commercial hubs like BKC and the airport terminals in the northern suburbs. Opened last year, the 33.5km (20.8 miles) corridor was expected to ease congestion in India's financial capital, projected to carry nearly 1.5 million passengers daily. However, the actual numbers are about a tenth of that, per various estimates.

Not a lot of people are using the line. It's too expensive, a ticketing executive at Cuffe Parade station stated. This phenomenon reflects a broader trend amid India's rapid metro expansion. Since 2014, the Indian government has allocated over $26 billion to metro connectivity across nearly two dozen cities.

The network has quadrupled from under 300km to more than 1,000km by 2025. Average daily ridership has also increased from three million to over 11 million people in the past decade. Yet these impressive aggregate numbers mask underlying issues; many metro systems have failed to reach expected ridership targets during their planning stages.

According to a 2023 report from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, ridership across corridors is only 25-35% of the projected figures. Other studies corroborate these findings, with some tier-3 cities experiencing as little as 2% of expected ridership, while the capital, Delhi, stands as a slight outlier with some improvement by taking interchanges into account.

The challenges contributing to this shortfall are multifaceted. Consultants often inaccurately project demand, exaggerating figures that make the projects seem economically viable. Moreover, affordability plays a critical role in ridership; for lower-income workers, metro journey costs can consume up to 20% of their income, far exceeding the global benchmark of 10-15%.

Additionally, poor network planning and inadequate last-mile connectivity hinder public transportation uptake. Without an integrated and convenient transport system, potential commuters are less inclined to switch from private vehicles.

Despite these issues, experts predict gradual increases in metro use as traffic woes intensify in urban India. However, without significant improvements in affordability and overall commuter experience, a marked shift in adoption may not materialize.