India has splurged billions on metro trains. But where are the commuters?

Key Points:

• Mumbai's Aqua Line metro, launched last year to connect key commercial hubs, is experiencing ridership at only about 10% of its projected 1.5 million daily passengers, reflecting a broader trend of underperformance across India's expanding metro networks.
• Despite a $26 billion investment since 2014 and a fourfold increase in metro network length, many Indian cities report actual ridership at just 20-35% of forecasts, with some tier-3 cities like Kanpur seeing figures as low as 2%.
• Factors contributing to low metro usage include inaccurate demand projections, high fares relative to income, infrequent train services, poor last-mile connectivity, and safety concerns, particularly for women, deterring potential riders.
• Institutional fragmentation among transit operators hampers integrated planning and seamless transfers, while inadequate feeder services and inconvenient station access further suppress metro adoption.
• Experts emphasize that improving fare affordability, operational integration, and station accessibility is critical to boosting ridership and realizing the intended benefits of India's metro investments.