Despite a recent report in The Economist dated December 23, 2023, suggesting that India’s metro rail systems aren’t attracting enough passengers, the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry begs to differ. They point out inaccuracies in the article and stress that it misses crucial context about the rapid development of these systems.
The Ministry clarifies that most of India’s metro networks were built within the last ten years, with some being even newer. Yet, these systems have already seen impressive daily ridership, crossing 10 million and expected to hit over 12.5 million soon. This contradicts the article’s claim that none of the metro systems have reached even half their projected ridership.
Taking the Delhi Metro as an example, it’s already serving seven million daily riders, which is more than what was projected for 2023. This system has significantly eased traffic congestion in the city, showcasing the effectiveness of metro rails in urban areas.
The government is not just focused on metro rails but is also promoting sustainable transport solutions like the PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, which aims to introduce 10,000 electric buses in medium-sized cities.
While acknowledging the rise in metro rail ridership, the Ministry also addresses the article’s point on commuters preferring other modes for shorter trips. They emphasize that metro systems, especially newer ones, are designed for long-term urban traffic needs and are already becoming the preferred mode of transport for women and younger commuters in cities.