In 1984, India began its metro journey; More than 40 years later, its network will surpass that of the US within two years and become the second largest after China.

India’s metro network has multiplied in recent years and could soon surpass the network of the United States of America. This would make India the country with the second largest metro network in the world after China.India could overtake the United States in metro network length in the next two years, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said while inaugurating the expanded metro service in Indore.

Metro network: India could soon overtake the United States

He said the United States currently has a metro rail network spanning 1,386 kilometers, while India’s network has grown to 1,170 kilometers after the extension of the Indore line. This leaves India only 216 kilometers from the United States.“The United States has a metro network of 1,386 kilometers. With the expansion of the Indore line, India’s metro network has reached 1,170 kilometers,” he said.The Indore Metro extension was built at a cost of Rs 2,850 crore. Lal said China remains far ahead, with around 8,000 kilometers of metro lines currently.“I believe that in the next two years we will surpass the United States and become the second largest country in the world in terms of metro network, after China,” the Union minister said.Lal also highlighted how quickly India’s metro network has expanded over the past decade. In 2014, metro services were available in only 245 kilometers in five cities. Since then, the network has grown to 1,170 kilometers and covers 26 cities, he said.According to Lal, the metro is more than just transporting passengers from one place to another. Its expansion also contributes to the ‘ease of living’ of the people and is part of the larger goal of building ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047.Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the launch of the expanded metro service marks another step in the development of Indore. He added that the metro network will eventually expand to Ujjain and other nearby areas.Yadav also thanked Prime Minister Modi for approving the Rs 18,500-crore Indore-Manmad railway line. He said the project would provide a big boost to rail connectivity between Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat.Officials said the Indore Metro had been operating commercially so far on a six-km stretch connecting Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. With the latest extension, the trade route will now cover 17 km, from Gandhi Nagar to Malviya Nagar Chauraha.Daily services on the extended stretch will begin with the first trains leaving both ends at 9am. The final service will operate at 7 p.m. Trains will run at 15-minute intervals and more than 80 trips are planned each day, officials said.According to officials, the expanded route will have 16 stations and is expected to improve connectivity between some of the city’s key commercial and residential areas.

Expansion of India’s metro network

India’s metro network has expanded from a single city when the first metro service began in 1984. The network grew to 25 km in two cities in 2002 and 248 km in five cities in 2014, before expanding rapidly in the following years. The government has said the Metro Rail Policy introduced in 2017 created an enabling framework for further expansion.India’s metro network has grown more than fourfold in just over a decade. From 248 km in five cities in 2014, the operational network reached 1,095 km in 26 cities in 2025, including 55 km of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS. The expansion has placed India among the largest metro networks in the world, with the country now ranking third globally in terms of operational metro network.The scale of construction has also increased considerably. Since 2014, 38 metro projects covering 1,051 kilometers have been sanctioned with an estimated cost of Rs 3.44 lakh crore. Government spending has increased along with this expansion, with the metro’s annual budget increasing from Rs 5,798 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 29,550 crore in 2025-26. Metro projects are also being incorporated into broader infrastructure planning through initiatives such as the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan.The expansion has not been limited to adding tracks. India has introduced several new forms of urban and regional transportation in recent years. The Namo Bharat regional train became operational on the Delhi-Meerut corridor in October 2023, with a running speed of 160 kmph. Kolkata introduced the country’s first underwater metro tunnel in 2024, while Kochi became the first Indian city to inaugurate a water metro in April 2023, connecting 10 islands with hybrid electric boats.