Metro Construction: A Data View of Indian Cities
- Neural City Team
- Sep 28
- 6 min read
Updated: Oct 14
Neural City Data Blog
We compiled a year-by-year timeline of metro development across eight major Indian cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune, and Ahmedabad.
Update for Mumbai Metro (Oct 2025): The Line 3 final stretch from Acharya Atre to Cuffe Parade (~10.99 km) has since been inaugurated. While this extends Mumbai’s network to nearly 80 km, it does not materially change the comparative insights discussed in this post.
For each city, we tracked:
The initiation milestone (planning/DPR, incorporation of a metro body, or inclusion into an existing agency’s mandate).
The year construction first began.
The year the first line opened for operations.
All subsequent operational additions with length (km) and cumulative totals.
Key Insights
Kolkata as the pioneer: Initiated way back in 1969, with operations beginning in 1984, Kolkata took decades of incremental additions to reach today’s ~74 km network. Its early start contrasts with its slower expansion compared to newer cities.
Delhi’s steep curve: Delhi Metro’s incorporation in 1995 and first line in 2002 was followed by aggressive growth. Its curve rises sharply compared to all others, showing how institutional focus and consistent funding changed the game.
The PPP experiment in Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro’s line (2017 onwards) came via a public–private partnership (L&T Metro Rail). The city saw rapid build-out to ~69 km by 2020 but has seen no new operational length since then.
Late starters, faster growth: Pune and Ahmedabad began serious planning only in the mid-2000s, but their curves steepen quickly after 2017. Ahmedabad in particular jumped from its first 6.5 km in 2019 to nearly 61 km by 2024.
Multiple agencies vs single operators:
Kolkata has both Metro Railway and KMRC in play.
Pune’s Line-3 is being executed under a different PPP concessionaire.
Other cities like Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad largely have a single nodal operator.This governance difference often shows up in pace of delivery.
Gaps between planning and delivery:
Kolkata: ~15 years between initiation (1969) and first operations (1984).
Pune: ~8 years between DPR (2009) and first operations (2022).
Delhi: ~7 years from incorporation (1995) to first line (2002).These lags underline the challenge of translating intent into track on ground.
Metro as a 21st-century trend: Except Kolkata and Delhi, most cities saw their real build-out momentum only after 2010. The charts visually highlight how metro expansion is a relatively recent wave in India’s urban infrastructure story.
Why It Matters
Looking at metros this way makes it clear that:
Institutional design (specialised agencies vs multi-tasked authorities) shapes outcomes.
The speed of expansion isn’t just about funds but also about planning lead time and clarity of mandate.
Tracking “initiation to operation” lag gives a realistic measure of how fast urban transport projects actually move.
Data Source:
Year | City | Operational Length (km) | Cumulative Metro Length (approx,) | Notes / Phases | |
1995 | Delhi(NCR) | DMRC Incorporated | 0 | ||
1998 | Delhi(NCR) | DMRC Construction started | 0 | Construction started in Oct 1998. | (Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)) |
2002 | Delhi(NCR) | 8.35 | 8.35 | Shahdara → Tis Hazari first section of Red Line opened Dec 2002. | (Wikipedia) |
2004 | Delhi(NCR) | 15.15 | 22-25 | More Red Line sections + Yellow Line first underground section. | (Wikipedia) |
2006 | Delhi(NCR) | 41.25 | 64.75 | Phase I completed (Red, Yellow, Blue lines in Phase I) by end of 2006. | (Wikipedia) |
2011 | Delhi(NCR) | 123.3 | 188.05 | Completion of Phase II (with many extensions) by August 2011. | (Wikipedia) |
2019 | Delhi(NCR) | 171.95 | 350-370 | By end of Phase III / partial Phase III completion, many new lines (Pink, Magenta, Grey), major extensions added. | (Wikipedia) |
2023 | Delhi(NCR) | 35 | 395 | Including Airport-Line extension to Yashobhoomi (Dwarka Sector-25) opened in 2023. | (Wikipedia) |
1994 | Bengaluru | BMRCL Incorporated | 0 | ||
2007 | Bengaluru | BMRCL Construction started | 0 | ||
2011 | Bengaluru | 6.7 | 6.7 | Purple Line Reach-1 (Baiyappanahalli–MG Road, 20 Oct 2011) | (Wikipedia) |
2014 | Bengaluru | 9.9 | 16.6 | Green Line Reach-3/3A (Sampige Road–Peenya Industry, 1 Mar 2014) | (Wikipedia) |
2015 | Bengaluru | 8.9 | 25.5 | Green Reach-3B (Peenya Ind.–Nagasandra, 1 May 2015) + Purple Reach-2 (Magadi Rd–Mysuru Rd, 16 Nov 2015) | (Wikipedia) |
2016 | Bengaluru | 4.8 | 30.3 | Purple Underground (Cubbon Park–KSR, 29/30 Apr 2016) | (Wikipedia) |
2017 | Bengaluru | 12 | 42.3 | Green UG + southern reach (to Yelachenahalli, 18 Jun 2017) → Phase-1 complete (42.3) | (Wikipedia) |
2021 | Bengaluru | 14 | 56.3 | Green Yelachenahalli–Silk Institute (14 Jan 2021) 6.5 + Purple Mysuru Rd–Kengeri (30 Aug 2021) 7.5 | (Wikipedia) |
2023 | Bengaluru | 17.9 | 74.2 | Purple East ext. Whitefield–KR Puram (26 Mar 2023); KR Puram–Baiyappanahalli + Kengeri–Challaghatta (both 9 Oct 2023) | (Wikipedia) |
2024 | Bengaluru | 3 | 77.2 | Green ext. Nagasandra–Madavara (7 Nov 2024) | (Wikipedia) |
2025 | Bengaluru | 19.15 | 96.35 | Yellow Line RV Road–Bommasandra opens (11 Aug 2025 for public) 19.15 | (The Times of India) |
1999 | Mumbai | MMRDA begins Metro Planning | 0 | ||
2006 | Mumbai | Mumbai Metro One Incorporated for Line 1 | 0 | ||
2008 | Mumbai | MMRCL incorporated for Line 3 | 0 | ||
2014 | Mumbai | 11.40 | 11.4 | Line 1 (Blue) Versova–Andheri–Ghatkopar opened (8 Jun 2014) | (MMRDA) |
2022 | Mumbai | 19.60 | 31 | Line 2A (Yellow) Phase-1 Dahisar(E)–Dahanukarwadi (2 Apr 2022); Line 7 (Red) Phase-1 Dahisar(E)–Aarey (2 Apr 2022) | (Metro Rail News) |
2023 | Mumbai | 14.60 | 45.6 | Line 2A Phase-2 Dahanukarwadi–DN Nagar + Line 7 Phase-2 Aarey–Gundavali (both 19 Jan 2023; full Lines 2A & 7 now operational) | (MMRDA) |
2025 | Mumbai | 9.00 | 67.9 | Line 3 Phase-2A BKC–Acharya Atre Chowk/Worli opened (May 2025); network operational length reported ≈ 68 km | (The Times of India) |
2024 | Mumbai | 13.30 | 58.9 | Line 3 (Aqua) Phase-1 Aarey–BKC (fully underground; inaugurated 5 Oct 2024) | (Wikipedia) |
2007 | Chennai | CMRL Incorporated | 0 | ||
2009 | Chennai | CMRL Construction started | 0 | ||
2015 | Chennai | 10 | 10 | First segment of Phase I: Alandur ↔ Koyambedu (Green Line) | (Metrorail Today) |
2016 | Chennai | 6 | 16 | Blue Line: Chennai Airport ↔ Little Mount | (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) |
2017 | Chennai | 7 | 23 | Green Line underground section: Thirumangalam ↔ Nehru Park | (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) |
2018 | Chennai | 11 | 34 | Extensions: Nehru Park ↔ Chennai Central (Green) + Saidapet ↔ AG-DMS (Blue) | (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) |
2019 | Chennai | 10 | 45 | AG-DMS ↔ Washermanpet (Blue Line underground) — completes Phase I | (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) |
2021 | Chennai | 9 | 54 | Phase I extension: Washermenpet → Wimco Nagar (elevated) (bulk of extension) | (Chennai Metro Rail Limited) |
2003 | Hyderabad | DPR work directed to DMRC in 2003 | 0 | ||
2007 | Hyderabad | Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) Incorporated | 0 | ||
2012 | Hyderabad | Construction start (first line) | 0 | ||
2017 | Hyderabad | 29.8 | 30 | Start of First line- 12.2 km (Miyapur–Ameerpet) + 17.6 km (Ameerpet–Nagole) | |
2018 | Hyderabad | 16 | 46 | 2018: 16.0 km (Ameerpet–LB Nagar). | |
2019 | Hyderabad | 10 | 56 | 8.5 km (Ameerpet–HITEC City) + 1.5 km (HITEC City–Raidurg) = 10.0 km | |
2020 | Hyderabad | 9.6 | 65.6 | 9.6 km (JBS–MGBS) | |
2025 | Hyderabad | 65.6 | Telangana govt ito take over Phase-1 operations (L&T to exit) | ||
1969 | Kolkata | Metropolitan Transport Project (Railways) Formed | 0 | ||
1972 | Kolkata | Master plan for E-W corrido | 0 | MTP master plan prepared (97.5 km network incl. E–W). | |
1973 | Kolkata | Construction start on N-S Corridor | 0 | ||
1984 | Kolkata | 5.6 | 5.6 | Esplanade–Bhowanipore/Netaji Bhavan and Dum Dum–Belgachhia | |
1986 | Kolkata | 4.24 | 9.84 | Tollygunge/Mahanayak Uttam Kumar | |
1994 | Kolkata | 2.34 | 12.18 | 0.71 + 1.92 central links | |
1995 | Kolkata | 4.32 | 16.5 | closing central gap; full N-S stretch operational | |
2009 | Kolkata | 5.85 | 22.35 | Shyambazar–Girish Park 1.92; Chandni–Central 0.60; Central–Girish Park 1.80 | |
2010 | Kolkata | 3 | 25.35 | Kavi Nazrul–Kavi Subhash | |
2013 | Kolkata | 2.09 | 27.44 | Dum Dum–Noapara | |
2019 | Kolkata | 5.3 | 32.74 | Sector V–Salt Lake Stadium opens · | |
2020 | Kolkata | 1.67 | 34.41 | E–W to Phoolbagan | |
2021 | Kolkata | 4.1 | 38.51 | Noapara–Dakshineswar | |
2022 | Kolkata | 8.83 | 47.34 | 2.33 km · E–W to Sealdah; +6.50 km · Purple Joka–Taratala | |
2024 | Kolkata | 11.45 | 58.79 | 1.25 km · Purple Taratala–Majerhat; +5.40 km · Orange Kavi Subhash–Hemanta Mukhopadhyay. 2024 (Mar 15) — +4.80 km · E–W Esplanade–Howrah Maidan | |
2025 | Kolkata | 13.61 | 72.4 | 4.39 km · Orange Hemanta Mukhopadhyay–Beleghata; +6.77 km · Yellow Noapara–Jai Hind (Airport); +2.45 km · E–W Sealdah–Esplanade (full 16.6 km now) | |
2009 | Pune | DMRC starts work on DPR | 0 | ||
2015 | Pune | Maha-Metro Incorporated | 0 | ||
2017 | Pune | Pune added to MMRCL's Mandate | 0 | ||
2017 | Pune | Construction begins phase 1 | 0 | ||
2022 | Pune | 12 | 12 | 6 km Purple + 4.35–6 km Aqua | |
2023 | Pune | 11.6 | 23.6 | Purple: Phugewadi–Civil Court 6.9 km; Aqua: Garware–Ruby Hall 4.7 km) | |
2024 | Pune | 9.12 | 32.72 | Ruby Hall–Ramwadi 5.5 km + Civil Court–Swargate 3.62 km | |
2004 | Ahmedabad | First Study on Ahmedabad Metro | 0 | ||
2005 | Ahmedabad | DMRC First DPR | 0 | ||
2010 | Ahmedabad | MEGA (now GMRC) established | 0 | ||
2015 | Ahmedabad | Construction start (first line) | 0 | ||
2019 | Ahmedabad | 6.5 | 6.5 | Blue: Apparel Park–Vastral Gam). | |
2022 | Ahmedabad | 32.13 | 38.63 | 13.26 km (Blue: Thaltej–Apparel Park) + +18.87 km (Red: Motera Stadium–APMC) | |
2024 | Ahmedabad | 0 | 38.63 | Kankaria East station opened (no new km) | |
2024 | Ahmedabad | 22.22 | 60.85 | Phase-2 Yellow: Sector-1–Motera) + (Phase-2 Violet: GNLU–GIFT City) + Blue: Thaltej → Thaltej Gam |