India’s Metro Network: State-by-State Growth in 2025

Rank	Region Name	Metro Length (km)
1	Delhi	395
2	Karnataka	96
3	Maharashtra	80
4	Telangana	69
5	West Bengal	58
6	Tamil Nadu	54
7	Gujarat	60
8	Uttar Pradesh	38
9	Kerala	28
10	Odisha	20
11	Madhya Pradesh	12
12	Rajasthan	12
13	Bihar	0
14	Punjab	0
15	Haryana	0
16	Andhra Pradesh	0
17	Jharkhand	0
18	Uttarakhand	0
19	Himachal Pradesh	0
20	Jammu and Kashmir	0
21	Assam	0
22	Manipur	0
23	Meghalaya	0
24	Mizoram	0
25	Nagaland	0
26	Tripura	0
27	Sikkim	0
28	Arunachal Pradesh	0
29	Goa	0
30	Chandigarh	0
31	Puducherry	0
32	Lakshadweep	0
33	DNHDD	0
34	Ladakh	0
35	Andaman and Nicobar Islands	0

India’s urban environment is vibrant and dynamic, with its metro systems embodying this energy.

As of November 2025, the nation features more than 1,035 kilometers of active metro lines spanning 23 cities across 11 states, positioning it third in the world, following China and the United States.

This growth represents a significant increase from merely 248 kilometers in five cities a decade earlier.

The accompanying table ranks all 35 states and union territories based on metro length, highlighting notable disparities. Delhi stands at the forefront with 395 kilometers, creating an extensive network that alleviates the capital’s congestion.

Southern states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu follow closely, driven by their technology centers and ports that stimulate demand.

However, large areas in the northeast and various islands report no metro lines, underscoring the uneven nature of development.

This imbalance arises from factors such as population density, economic focus, and geographical challenges, yet it also presents opportunities for fair growth.

Currently, metro systems transport over 10 million passengers each day, reducing travel times by as much as 50 percent in cities like Delhi and Bengaluru.

They also lower emissions, enhance property values by 20-40 percent along their routes, and contribute to urban transport’s GDP share, which stands at 5 percent.

As India experiences an annual urbanization rate of 2.5 percent, metro systems are becoming essential, merging efficiency with sustainability in a country of 1.4 billion.

Delhi has India’s longest Metro Line

Delhi’s extensive 395 kilometers surpass all others, showcasing exceptional planning and persistent urban pressure.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation connects lines throughout the National Capital Region, linking Noida and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh with Gurugram in Haryana.

This comprehensive network accommodates 6.5 million passengers daily, alleviating road congestion by 22 percent since 2014. What enables Delhi to outshine its competitors?

The city’s 32 million inhabitants contend with 1,500 new vehicles introduced every hour, congesting major routes like Ring Road.

Central government funding, initiated with Phase I in 2002, emphasized the construction of elevated and underground tracks to traverse densely populated heritage areas.

Phase IV, which will add 65 kilometers by late 2025, will feature driverless trains and AI-based signaling, reducing energy consumption by 30 percent.

The economic rationale is compelling: Metros yield Rs 15,000 crore each year in indirect benefits, ranging from tourism to real estate surges in regions such as Dwarka.

Without this extensive network, Delhi’s air quality index, frequently surpassing 300, would deteriorate further, incurring billions in health-related costs.

The achievements here serve as a model, yet they also strain resources, as ticket fares only cover 10 percent of the Rs 7,000 crore required for annual operations.

Southern States have considerable Metro lines

Karnataka’s 96 kilometers in Bengaluru exemplify India’s innovation prowess, akin to Silicon Valley.

The Namma Metro’s Purple and Green Lines navigate through congested areas like MG Road, catering to 1 million commuters each day.

Bengaluru experiences an influx of 1,000 new residents weekly, increasing its population to 13 million and resulting in traffic congestion that consumes 15 billion man-hours annually.

The state has allocated Rs 30,000 crore for Phase III, focusing on airport connections and outer ring roads, with a projection of 220 kilometers by 2026.

This expansion reflects the IT sector’s 8 percent contribution to GDP, where engineers require efficient travel to hubs such as Whitefield.

In a similar vein, Tamil Nadu’s 54 kilometers in Chennai facilitate port-related commerce, managing 1.5 million TEUs each year.

The underground sections of Chennai Metro, completed in 2023, connect with MRTS trains, reducing radial travel times from 90 to 30 minutes.

These southern metro systems flourish through collaborations between federal and state governments, with JICA loans covering 40 percent of the expenses.

They also promote equity: Women-only coaches enhance female workforce participation by 15 percent.

However, challenges remain; Bengaluru’s metro lines struggle during monsoon seasons, hindering returns on investments of Rs 407 crore per kilometer.

Maharashtra’s is Rapidly building new Metro Lines

Maharashtra encompasses 80 kilometers, divided into 59 kilometers for Mumbai and 21 kilometers for Nagpur, highlighting the varied urban requirements.

The operational Lines 2A and 7 in Mumbai, which have been in service since 2022, traverse the island city, transporting 4 million passengers among a population of 22 million.

The financial capital incurs an annual loss of Rs 98,000 crore due to traffic congestion, which has led to the development of the underground Aqua Line, a 33-kilometer project set for completion by 2025.

With high population densities reaching 20,000 individuals per square kilometer, the construction of elevated viaducts over slum areas is essential to reduce land acquisition expenses that would otherwise escalate.

Nagpur’s Orange Line serves as a pilot project for smart cities, linking MIHAN’s aviation park and attracting Rs 10,000 crore in foreign direct investment.

Maharashtra’s competitive advantage is rooted in public-private partnership models; private companies such as Reliance contribute 30 percent of funding, thereby expediting project timelines.

This combination supports the vibrancy of Bollywood and the activity of the stock exchange, yet the uneven implementation of projects tends to favor the western region over Vidarbha, igniting discussions on equity.

Northern and Eastern States lacks in Metro construction

Uttar Pradesh’s 38 kilometers spanning Lucknow, Kanpur, and Agra illustrate tier-2 aspirations, yet they are overshadowed by their southern counterparts.

The 23 kilometers in Lucknow facilitate commutes for 3 million residents, but land disputes cause delays in expansion efforts.

In contrast, eastern states such as Bihar and Jharkhand achieve a score of zero, with their combined population of 100 million dependent on overcrowded bus services.

The hilly landscapes of Himachal and the northeastern region hinder the establishment of rail tracks, with costs escalating by 50 percent in seismic areas.

Bhubaneswar in Odisha, with its 20 kilometers, defies the trend through smart city funding, connecting temples to IT parks.

These gaps stem from financial limitations; northeastern budgets allocate a mere 5 percent to transportation, compared to 20 percent in Delhi.

Central initiatives like UDAN focus on airport development, neglecting rail infrastructure.

Nevertheless, forecasts anticipate 50 kilometers of rail in Patna by 2026, which could lead to a 20 percent reduction in emissions.

Source

• Metro Rail Today. (2025, October 15). India emerges as the world’s 3rd largest metro rail network.