Delhi Metro Shatters Ridership Records, Showcasing City’s Embrace of Sustainable Transport.
In a remarkable feat that underscores Delhi’s growing commitment to sustainable transportation, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) achieved a new ridership record on Tuesday, August 13, 2024.
With a staggering 72.38 lakh passenger journeys undertaken, the Delhi Metro not only shattered its previous records but also solidified its position as the city’s preferred mode of commute.
Interestingly, this milestone comes on the heels of yet another remarkable achievement, as the previous day, August 12, witnessed the third-highest ridership in the Metro’s history, with 71.07 lakh passenger journeys recorded. These consecutive days of unprecedented ridership highlight the city’s growing embrace of the efficient and eco-friendly Metro system.
The DMRC’s announcement on X (formerly Twitter) celebrated this momentous occasion, stating, “Delhi Metro Achieves New Ridership Record on 13th August 2024. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) recorded its highest-ever passenger journeys on Tuesday, 13th August 2024 with 72.38 lakh passenger journeys being performed across the network.”
With a sprawling network of 392.44 km and 288 stations, the Delhi Metro has transcended the boundaries of the national capital, extending its reach to neighboring cities in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh, and Ballabhgarh.
Last year, the DMRC acknowledged that it was catering to around 67 lakh passenger journeys on weekdays, exceeding the projected figures of its detailed project report. This surge in ridership is a testament to the city’s growing preference for sustainable and efficient transportation solutions.
In the calendar year 2023, the Delhi Metro achieved an unprecedented milestone, recording more than 200 crore passenger journeys (2,032,342,972) for the first time in its history. This remarkable figure represents a significant increase from the 149 crore passenger journeys recorded in 2022 and surpasses even the pre-pandemic ridership levels of 185 crore recorded in 2019.
Out of the top five highest journey days in the Metro’s history, four have been recorded in 2024 alone, including August 13 (72.38 lakhs), February 13 (71.09 lakhs), August 12 (71.07 lakhs), and February 12 (70.88 lakhs). The day with the fourth-highest passenger journeys was recorded on September 4, 2023, with 71.04 lakh.
The DMRC, registered on May 3, 1995, under the Companies Act, of 1956, was established with equal equity participation from the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and the Central Government. Its mission was to implement the dream of constructing and operating a world-class Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) for the city.
Recognizing the significance of the Delhi Metro in the city’s infrastructure, Delhi’s finance minister, Atishi, allocated Rs 500 crore for the service in the Delhi Budget 2024-25. She highlighted that the daily ridership of the Metro was more than 60 lakh people commuting on the service every day in the previous year, a remarkable increase from 24 lakh a decade ago.
As the Delhi Metro continues to expand its network, with the length doubling to 393 km and the number of stations increasing to 288 in the past nine years, its popularity among commuters continues to soar.
This record-breaking ridership serves as a testament to the city’s commitment to sustainable transportation solutions and the collective efforts of its residents to embrace a greener future.
