Last updated 16 October 2026 · Reviewed by the Metro Rail News editorial desk
India metro network at a glance
First metro: Kolkata, 1984Largest: Delhi Metro, 374.5 km, 271 stationsFastest: Meerut Metro, 120 km/h
How many cities have metro in India? As of October 2026, metro trains run in 26 Indian cities, 21 of them with their own metro system, with about 1,105 km in commercial service, the third-largest metro network in the world.
Cities with their own system: Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Nagpur, Pune, Kochi, Meerut, Lucknow, Indore, Kanpur, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna and Agra.
India operates the world’s third-largest metro rail network. According to Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) figures placed before Parliament, updated for lines opened since, about 1,104.5 km of metro lines were in commercial operation across 26 cities as of October 2026, with nearly 1,000 km more under construction. This page is the complete, continuously updated index of every metro, RRTS (Namo Bharat), and high-speed rail project in India, organised by status, with network data, implementing agencies, and links to each project’s dedicated information page for route maps, tenders, contracts, and the latest news.
India’s metro journey began with the Kolkata Metro in 1984, followed by the Delhi Metro in 2002, which set the template for modern urban rail delivery in the country. The network crossed the 1,000-km milestone in May 2025, and with the full 82.15 km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor operational and the 508 km Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train under construction, India’s rapid transit build-out is now the largest anywhere outside China.
Latest from India’s metro network
How many cities have metro in India? Why sources say 21, 26 or 29
Metro Rail News counts metro lines in commercial passenger service, using Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) figures placed before Parliament in July 2026 plus sections opened since. On that basis 21 cities have their own metro system: Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Chennai, Nagpur, Pune, Kochi, Meerut, Lucknow, Indore, Kanpur, Jaipur, Bhopal, Patna and Agra.
Counting satellite cities that are served by a neighbouring network, such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh on Delhi Metro lines and Gandhinagar on the Ahmedabad network, the total rises to 26 cities. Higher figures you may see elsewhere, such as 29 cities or about 1,143 km, depend on what is counted, for example more satellite towns or regional rail such as the Namo Bharat RRTS, which this page lists separately.
How many states have metro? Metro rail runs in 12 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi: Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, plus Delhi. The table below gives the operational length in each.
State-wise Operational Metro Network (October 2026)
The table below is the official city-wise breakdown of operational metro length, as placed before Parliament by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs in July 2026, updated for sections opened since then in Indore, Pune, Meerut, Kolkata and Patna. Figures are for revenue service only and exclude sections under trial or awaiting CMRS clearance. Delhi & NCR is reported as a single network because Delhi Metro, Noida Metro and Rapid Metro Gurugram operate as one contiguous system across the region.
Show the full state-wise data table
| State / UT | City | Operational length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi & NCR | Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Ballabgarh, Bahadurgarh, Greater Noida, Gurugram | 416 |
| Maharashtra | Mumbai (including Navi Mumbai) | 102.6 |
| Karnataka | Bengaluru | 96.1 |
| West Bengal | Kolkata | 73.42 |
| Telangana | Hyderabad | 69 |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai | 68.8 |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar | 68.5 |
| Maharashtra | Nagpur | 40.022 |
| Maharashtra | Pune | 33.1 |
| Kerala | Kochi | 28.48 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Meerut | 23 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Lucknow | 22.878 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Indore | 17 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Kanpur | 15.12 |
| Rajasthan | Jaipur | 12.1 |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal | 6.22 |
| Bihar | Patna | 6.2 |
| Uttar Pradesh | Agra | 6 |
| Total | 1,104.5 |
Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, reply to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question (annexure), July 2026, sansad.in. Updated with PIB (Indore), Pune Metro, Indian Express (Meerut) and PIB (Kolkata).
India’s metro timeline: first, second and newest
Kolkata opened India’s first metro in 1984 and Delhi the second in 2002. The dates below are when each system first carried passengers.
- 1984: Kolkata Metro (24 October 1984)
- 2002: Delhi Metro (25 December 2002)
- 2011: Bengaluru Metro (20 October 2011)
- 2013: Gurgaon Rapid Metro (14 November 2013)
- 2014: Mumbai Metro (8 June 2014)
- 2015: Jaipur Metro (3 June 2015)
- 2015: Chennai Metro (29 June 2015)
- 2017: Kochi Metro (19 June 2017)
- 2017: Lucknow Metro (6 September 2017)
- 2017: Hyderabad Metro (29 November 2017)
- 2019: Noida Metro (26 January 2019)
- 2019: Ahmedabad Metro (6 March 2019)
- 2019: Nagpur Metro (8 March 2019)
- 2021: Kanpur Metro (28 December 2021)
- 2022: Pune Metro (6 March 2022)
- 2023: Navi Mumbai Metro (17 November 2023)
- 2024: Agra Metro (6 March 2024)
- 2025: Indore Metro (31 May 2025)
- 2025: Patna Metro (7 October 2025)
- 2025: Bhopal Metro (21 December 2025)
- 2026: Meerut Metro (22 February 2026)
What opens next: see the upcoming metro openings calendar for the sections ready to open, in trial runs, or due in 2026 and 2027. Travelling in Delhi? Use the Delhi Metro fare calculator.
Operational Metro Rail Systems in India
Twenty-one Indian cities have their own metro system in commercial passenger service; counting NCR and other satellite cities served by a neighbouring network, official figures cover 26 cities. Several of the newer systems (Agra, Indore, Bhopal, and Patna) are running priority sections while the balance of their networks remains under construction.
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Metro Projects Under Construction
Beyond the operational systems, entirely new metro networks are under construction in the following cities:
| City | Project | Length | Agency | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surat | Surat Metro | 40.35 km (2 corridors) | GMRC | Trial runs Trial runs held on the Dream City–Althan priority stretch in April 2026; opening expected after CMRS clearance |
| Thane | Thane Ring Metro | 29 km (22 stations) | Maha Metro | Early works Approved by Union Cabinet in August 2024; early works under way |
| Bhubaneswar | Bhubaneswar Metro | 26 km (Phase 1) | DMRC (interim) | Under construction Civil construction in progress |
In parallel, every major operational system is expanding. Key extension programmes under construction include Delhi Metro Phase IV (61.679 km across three priority corridors plus two additional approved corridors; civil work on the Inderlok–Indraprastha corridor began in July 2026), Chennai Metro Phase 2 (116.1 km, first section opening in 2026), Bengaluru’s Phase 2/2A/2B and Phase 3 corridors, Mumbai Metro Lines 2B, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12, Kolkata’s Orange and Yellow line extensions, Pune Metro’s Phase 2 reaches and Line 3 to Hinjawadi (23.2 km, opening 2026), Kochi Metro Phase 2 to Infopark, Ahmedabad Metro’s newly approved Phase 2A airport corridor (6 km, sanctioned June 2026), and the balance corridors in Agra, Indore, Bhopal, Patna and Kanpur.
Approved Metro, Metrolite & Metro Neo Projects
The following projects have received state and/or central government approval and are in the pre-construction stage: land acquisition, detailed design, and tendering:
| City | Project | Length | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jaipur | Jaipur Metro Phase 2 | 41 km (36 stations) | Approved Union Cabinet approved the ₹13,037.66 crore North-South corridor, Prahladpura to Todi Mod; completion targeted by September 2031 |
| Gorakhpur | Gorakhpur Metrolite | 27.41 km (2 corridors) | Approved Light urban rail under UPMRC |
| Nashik | Nashik Metro Neo | ≈32 km | Approved India’s first Metro Neo (rubber-tyred, overhead-powered) system |
| Thiruvananthapuram | Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro | ≈21.8 km | State cleared KMRL-led light metro proposal cleared by the state |
| Kozhikode | Kozhikode Light Metro | ≈13.1 km | Planned Light metro planned alongside Thiruvananthapuram |
Proposed Metro Rail Projects
DPRs have been prepared or are being prepared for metro, Metrolite, and Metro Neo systems in these cities. Timelines depend on state and MoHUA/Union Cabinet approvals:
RRTS / Namo Bharat Corridors
The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), branded Namo Bharat, is a 160 km/h regional rail network being developed by NCRTC to connect Delhi with NCR cities. The first corridor is fully operational; two more Phase 1 corridors are approved.
| Corridor | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut | 82.15 km (25 stations incl. Meerut Metro) | Operational Fully operational since 22 February 2026; Meerut Metro (23 km) runs on the same infrastructure |
| Delhi–Gurugram–SNB–Alwar | 196 km (incl. 33 km SNB–Sotanala spur) | Approved Sarai Kale Khan–SNB section prioritised |
| Delhi–Sonipat–Panipat | 103 km | Approved Awaiting construction sanction |
| Ghaziabad–Noida Airport (Jewar) | 72.44 km (22 stations) | DPR stage DPR under preparation by NCRTC (entered DPR stage, July 2026) |
| Patna RRTS (4 corridors) | To be finalised | Proposed ₹31.59 crore sanctioned and NCRTC nominated to prepare AAR/DPR for the Patna–Muzaffarpur, Patna–Begusarai, Patna–Arrah and Patna–Gaya links (July 2026) |
High-Speed Rail (Bullet Train) Corridors
NHSRCL is building India’s first high-speed rail line between Mumbai and Ahmedabad using Japanese Shinkansen technology. Seven further corridors have been studied under the National Rail Plan:
| Corridor | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai–Ahmedabad HSR (MAHSR) | 508.17 km | Under construction Gujarat section targeted first |
| Delhi–Varanasi HSR | 865 km | Proposed DPR submitted |
| Delhi–Ahmedabad HSR | 886 km | Proposed DPR/surveys in progress |
| Delhi–Amritsar HSR | 465 km | Proposed |
| Mumbai–Nagpur HSR | 741 km | Proposed |
| Mumbai–Hyderabad HSR | 767 km | Proposed |
| Chennai–Bengaluru–Mysuru HSR | 463 km | Proposed |
| Varanasi–Howrah HSR | 760 km | Proposed |
| Hyderabad–Bengaluru HSR | 626 km | Proposed |
Other Regional Rapid Rail Projects
| Project | Length | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Nagpur Broad Gauge Metro | 78.8 km | Operational Runs on Indian Railways tracks |
| Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor | 121.7 km | Under construction HRIDC |
| Pune–Nashik Semi High-Speed Rail | 234.6 km | Approved Alignment under revision |
| Hyderabad Airport Express Metro | 36.6 km (Nagole–RGIA) | Awaiting sanction Part of the 122.9 km Hyderabad Metro Phase 2 DPR; central sanction awaited |
| Ahmedabad–Rajkot Semi HSR | N/A | Proposed G-RIDE |
| Kerala SilverLine (K-Rail) | 530.6 km | Cancelled Formally dropped in May 2026; succeeded by the Kerala RRTS Corridor and the Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR) proposal |
More Metro Rail News
The stories below refresh on their own as we publish: line openings, contract awards, tenders, rolling-stock and policy news from across India’s metros.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cities in India have an operational metro rail network in 2026?
As of October 2026, metro trains run in 26 Indian cities. 21 of them have their own metro system, from Kolkata and Delhi to the newest in Agra, Indore, Bhopal, Patna and Meerut, and the rest are satellite cities such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Gandhinagar served by a neighbouring network. Together they have about 1,105 km of metro in service.
What is the total operational metro rail length in India?
India has about 1,104.5 km of operational metro lines as of October 2026, based on MoHUA figures placed before Parliament in July 2026 plus sections opened since. This makes India’s metro network the third-largest in the world, and around 85 km of new lines were added in 2025 alone. Nearly 1,000 km more is under construction.
Which is the largest metro network in India?
Delhi Metro is India’s largest metro network at 374.5 km with 271 stations across 10 colour-coded lines, operated by DMRC. Mumbai Metro is second at about 101 km, followed by Bengaluru’s Namma Metro at 96.1 km and Kolkata Metro at 73.42 km.
Which was India’s first metro system?
Kolkata Metro was India’s first metro, opening in 1984 between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. It was followed by the Delhi Metro in 2002, which set the template for modern metro construction and financing adopted by every Indian city since.
What is the difference between metro and RRTS (Namo Bharat)?
A metro serves travel within a city, with closely spaced stations and speeds up to about 80–100 km/h. RRTS (Namo Bharat) is a regional semi-high-speed system designed for 100–200 km inter-city corridors, with fewer stops and operational speeds of 160 km/h. The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor is India’s first RRTS.
What is the status of India’s bullet train project?
The 508.17 km Mumbai–Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor is under construction by NHSRCL using Japanese Shinkansen technology. The Gujarat section is targeted to open first, and seven further corridors, including Delhi–Varanasi and Delhi–Ahmedabad, have been studied under the National Rail Plan.
Which is India’s fastest metro?
Meerut Metro, inaugurated on 22 February 2026, is India’s fastest metro with an operational speed of 120 km/h. It runs on the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat (RRTS) infrastructure, a first-of-its-kind arrangement in the country, covering 23 km with 13 stations.
Which Indian cities will get a metro next?
Surat is next: trial runs were held in April 2026 and services begin after CMRS safety clearance. Bhubaneswar and Thane are under construction, while Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Guwahati and several other cities have DPRs at various stages of approval.
How much does metro construction cost per km in India?
Elevated metro corridors typically cost around ₹250–350 crore per km, while underground sections cost roughly ₹600–900 crore per km, depending on geology, land and systems. Lighter modes such as Metrolite and Metro Neo are designed to cut this to under ₹150–250 crore per km for smaller cities.
How many metro projects are under construction in India?
Nearly 1,000 km of metro lines are under construction across India. This includes new networks in Surat, Bhubaneswar and Thane, plus major expansions such as Delhi Metro Phase IV, Chennai Metro Phase 2 (116.1 km), Bengaluru Phases 2 and 3, and multiple Mumbai Metro lines.
How many states in India have metro rail?
Metro rail runs in 12 states and the National Capital Territory of Delhi: Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, plus Delhi.
Which is the second metro in India?
Delhi Metro, which opened to passengers on 25 December 2002, was India’s second metro after Kolkata (1984). Bengaluru followed in 2011 and Mumbai in 2014.
Spotted an update we’ve missed, or need data for research or business development? Write to us at editor@metrorailnews.in.
About this page: This overview is compiled and maintained by the Metro Rail News editorial team under Managing Editor Narendra Shah, who has covered India’s metro rail, railway, RRTS and high-speed rail sectors since 2014, tracking project sanctions, tenders, contracts and commissioning milestones for a professional B2B readership of metro corporations, ministries, engineers and industry suppliers. Figures are cross-checked against MoHUA releases, PIB statements and metro operators’ official data, and the page is revised whenever a new section opens or a project is sanctioned.