India on right path to become World's second largest Metro Rail Network: Hardeep Singh Puri

(Hardeep Singh Puri, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs)

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): In a recent announcement, Union Minister for Housing & Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, revealed India's ambitious plans to establish itself as the world's second-largest metro network. The minister made this significant statement during a media briefing, shedding light on the outcomes of various urban transport initiatives. This announcement took place at the launch of an updated e-booklet titled "Transforming Urban Landscape," which covers the period from 2014 to 2023.

As part of his statement, Puri highlighted the remarkable progress in India's metro rail network. Currently, there are approximately 872 kilometers of operational metro lines in 20 different cities, including Delhi and seven National Capital Region (NCR) cities, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Kanpur, and Pune. These networks collectively witness an average daily ridership of 85 lakhs. Furthermore, there are around 988 kilometers of metro rail projects, including the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), under construction across various cities in India. These cities include Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Mumbai, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Pune, Kanpur, Agra, Bhopal, Indore, Patna, Surat, and Meerut.

Puri also emphasized the government's unwavering commitment to the growth and development of the urban sector in India, under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He highlighted the significant increase in investments in the urban sector, which have risen from Rs 1,78,053 crore (2004-2014) to Rs 18,07,101 crore (2014 onwards).

The minister's speech at the event showcased the government's determination to transform urban spaces and create world-class cities that enhance the quality of life for residents. He underscored that urban development was a sector that had been overlooked in the past but was now receiving the attention it deserved.

In summary, India's ambitious plans to become the world's second-largest metro network and its commitment to urban development are indicative of its aspirations for progress and modernization in the urban sector.