India is a country where most of the population prefer traveling by public transport rather than their own vehicles because of its densely populated traffic. Though we have many public transport means like bus and trains, metros are considered to be the fastest and environment friendly.
The first Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in India was launched in Kolkata Metro which started after the inauguration by PM Indra Gandhi in 1984. Delhi Metro was India’s first modern metro after Chennai’s which was started in 2002. Today, metros in India altogether, cater services to approximately more than three million passengers everyday.
There are currently 8 operational Metro systems in India and has 324 km of operational metro lines (sept. 2016). These trains normally has 6 to 8 coaches with an average speed of 35 kmph and top speed 105 kmph depending on gauge (standard and broad gauge). The trains work on normal principle of DC shunt and asynchronous motor trains are armed with automatic train control systems, comprising automatic train operation, train protection, uses vacuum breaking mechanism and has wireless communication (intercom – Inter communication devices) between passenger and train operator.
Advantage of Using Metro Trains
- Cheap and Fastest (reduces journey time by 50%) mode of transport.
- Eco-friendly (runs on electricity hence no pollution)
- Capable of carrying more passengers
- Provides comfort (Centralized air conditioning).
- Reduces the incidents of accidents
To make the passengers journey more comfortable, metro stations have additional services like ATM’s, food outlets, convenience stores etc.
Cities with Metro Rail Service
Kolkata
Kolkata (calcutta) also called cultural capital of India, has metro started on 24thoct 1984 the first mass rapid transit system in India. The metro 
construction started with Dumdum to Tollygunge corridor in 1972, and gradually it was extended to two other corrisdors Bidhannager to Ramrajatala and Dakshineswar to Thakurpukur. To support the increasing traffic these extensions were made later and today Kolkata metro carries approximately 5 lakh people every day.
Chennai
The Chennai MRTS started on 1st November 1995. MRTS elevated line of the urban mass transit system started its services in 2007 and later the design was extended to suburban areas. It was not exactly as the metro because the train works on normal EMU痴 (electric multiple units). There are overall 41 stations, with 19 stations underground and 12 elevated. There are two main corridors of connection, one from Washermanpet to Saidapet (14.3 kms) and another from Chennai Central to Anna Nagar 2nd Avenue (9.7 kms).
Delhi
Delhi DMRC started in 2002, was India first modern rapid transit system. The construction is done by phases serving Delhi, Gurgaon, Nodia and Ghaziabad areas. First phase covering 65.11km started in 2002 and 2nd phase include 125km and 3rd and 4th phase expand the total journey to 413.8 km and are scheduled to open by 2020. DMRC is also integrated with Google maps (provides train scheduled and routes of metros) and the whole network is divided into 6 routes differentiated by various colours (red, yellow, blue, green, violet and orange)
Bangalore
BMRCL (Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited) called as Namma metro started in 2011. It is the first metro in South India and built with WiFi facilities to travelers. The project has two corridors, one from East to West covering 18.10 km from Baiyappanahalli in the East to Mysore Road terminal in the West and the second corridor covering 24.20 Km North to South, starting at Nagasandra to Puttenahalli.
Gurgaon
Gurgaon Haryana started its services in 2013. This is the first privately financed metro and the first metro system in India to auction named rights for its stations. This network is part of Delhi Metro (yellow line) at Sikandarpur. It’s total length is 11 km with 11 stations in between, having one station per kilometer.
Jaipur
The rapid transit in city of Jaipur (Rajasthan) started two years back in 2015. It is first metro in India to run on double storey elevated road metro track. The construction of first phase comprising of 9.36 km from Mansarovar to Chandpole Bazar started in 2010 and completed by 2014.
Cities with Metros Under Construction
Hyderabad Metro System
The proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail project is 72 kms long with stations constructed after every 1 km. The project is expected to serve 3 high density corridors
- Corridor 1 – Miyapur to L B nagar (29km)
- Corridor 2 – J B stand to Falaknuma (15km)
- Corridor 3 – Nagole to Shilparamam (28km)
To make it more conveneient to commuters, the HMRS is working in collaboration with other Public transport systems in Hyderabad such as MMTS (Multi-Modal Transport System) and TSRTC (Road Transport Corporation).
Other cities
Other cities that have metro rail system under construction are Kochi (Kerala), Lucknow (UP), Noida (UP) and Navi Mumbai (MH).
Cities That are Under Plan to Build Metro Rail System
- Pune
- Vijayawada
- Varanasi
- Agra
- Meerut
- Patna
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Visakhapatnam
- Kozhikode
- Bhopal
- Indore
- Surat
- Srinagar
- Gwalior