Metro Rail Likely to Receive Five-Year Package to Enhance Connectivity.

The Centre is expected to announce a five-year package in the upcoming budget to fast-track metro rail projects across the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. This multi-year plan is aligned with the government’s objective to scale up metro and intercity rapid rail connectivity as part of efforts to address growing urban congestion.

For the 2024-25 fiscal year, the government has allocated ₹24,785.94 crore in capital expenditure for Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) and metro projects. A senior official noted that the government aims to enhance metro connectivity to decongest cities, which are rapidly expanding. It is anticipated that the 2025-26 budget will unveil a major program to further this goal.

Metro and rapid rail projects in India are typically joint ventures between the central and state governments. Currently, India’s metro and rapid rail network spans about 1,000 kilometers across 11 states and 23 cities, with an additional 985 kilometers under construction.

Officials indicated that the aim is to more than double the existing metro network in the next five years with the support of budgetary interventions. India surpassed Japan in metro rail network length in 2022 and is now ranked third globally. With the ongoing expansion, India is poised to have the second-largest metro network in the world.

In the latter half of 2024, the Union Cabinet approved metro projects for cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Thane, and Pune, marking significant steps in the country’s metro rail development.

ET