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In June 2008, the Delhi Metro consists of three lines totalling 68 km:

Line 1 extended its total length to 24.4 km (21 stations) with the eastern extension to Dilshad Garden on 4 June 2008. The new section runs on a viaduct, parallel to the mainline tracks.

The previous extension brought the line length to 21.3 km (18 stations) on 31 March 2004 with the inauguration of the Inder Lok - Rithala section. The entire section is elevated and runs on a viaduct constructed mostly on road medians.  

The first two sections of Line 1 were opened on 25 December 2002 (Shahdara to Tis Hazari - 8.3km, 6 stations) and 3 October 2003 (Tis Hazari to Inder Lok - 4.1km, 4 stations) respectively. After two extensions, the line is now 25 km long.

Line 2, which was opened in two stages between Vishwa Vidyalaya (Delhi University, North Campus) and Central Secretariat, used to be underground for its entire 11 km length. The route passes through the city centre, or the central business district at Connaught Place. The stations along the route were built by cut-and-cover technique except at Chawri Bazar where tunneling was used. Metro stations are located 12.85 m below ground level except at the highly congested Chawri Bazar station which is located at 20 m below ground. In February 2009, Line 2 was extended north to Jahangirpuri, including the first four elevated stations on this line. The total length of the Jahangirpuri - Central Secretariat is 17.4 km. In June 2010, the first 14.5 km part of a southern extension was brought into service, taking the Metro across the city border into Gurgaon. The 12.5 km missing section is supposed to open in summer 2010.

Line 3 runs mostly elevated or at grade with a short underground section in central New Delhi. It is currently (01/2010) about 54 km long. Line 3 intersects with Line 2 at Connaught Place, but does not provide interchange with Line 1.

The planning for the Metro in Delhi had started in the 1950s. Numerous studies were conducted for studying the feasibility of a rail based mass transit system. The first steps towards the construction of the metro were only initiated in 1995 when the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was registered. Physical work on the project started on October 1, 1998.

25 Dec 2002: Shahdara - Tis-Hazari (Line 1)
03 Oct 2003: Tis Hazari - Inder Lok (Trinagar) (Line 1)
31 Mar 2004: Inder Lok - Rithala (Line 1)
19 Dec 2004: Vishwa Vidyalaya (Delhi University) - Kashmere Gate (Line 2), 4 km
03 July 2005: Kashmere Gate - Central Secretariat (Line 2), 7 km
31 Dec 2005: Dwarka - Barakhamba (Line 3), 22.9 km
01 Apr 2006: Dwarka - Dwarka Sector 9 (Line 3), 6.5 km
11 Nov 2006: Barakhamba - Indraprastha (Line 3), 4.0 km
04 Jun 2008: Shahdara - Dilshad Garden (Line 1), 3.1 km
04 Feb 2009: Vishwa Vidyalaya - Jahangirpuri (Line 2), 6.4 km
10 May 2009: Indraprastha - Yamuna Bank (Line 3), 2.1 km
13 Nov 2009: Yamuna Bank - Noida City Centre (Sector 32) (Line 3), 13.1 km
08 Jan 2010: Yamuna Bank - Anand Vihar (Line 3), 6.3 km
03 Apr 2010: Inderlok - Mundka (Line 5), 15.1 km
21 June 2010: Qutab Minar - Huda City Centre (Line 2), 14.5 km

 Projects

For updated details on current and future projects click here

See map with all projects for 2010!

See map as displayed at Kashmere Gate station showing planned lines (304K)

Left: L2 Chandni Chowk, right: L3 Rajiv Chowk

L3 Rajiv Chowk

Fare collection on the metro system is through contactless stored-value smartcards. Tokens are available for single journey and return tickets only. Stored-value smartcards are available for Rs. 100, 200 and 500 in value. They are available after paying a refundable deposit of Rs. 100 and can also be recharged when the value on the card is exhausted.

Fares depend on distance travelled and range between Rs. 6 and Rs. 22.

Tourist passes are available for unlimited travel for a Rs. 70 and Rs. 200 for one and three days respectively.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (Official Website)

Delhi Metro at Wikipedia

Delhi Metro Newsgroup

Delhi Metro Map at Johomaps