Why Metros Struggle in Tier-2 Cities: Are They Necessary Where Basic Infrastructure Is Missing?
As of 2026, India has the third-largest metro rail network in the world. With over 1,000 km of network, India is just behind China and the USA in terms of length. By the end of 2030, India will likely surpass the USA, as many metro routes are currently under construction in various cities. We have very successful metro networks in cities like Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, where the metros operate at near full capacity and have been quite profitable. However, there are a few cities that are struggling to attract passengers even after the inauguration, such as Indore, Bhopal, Jaipur, and Patna. This raises an important question: has the government built these metro systems in a hurry without proper planning, and do these cities really need metro rail networks? Reasons for Metro Failures: 1) Flawed Planning and Route Alignment Initial planning for many metro networks has been a major cause of failure, as routes often miss key population centers and busi...