India set to surpass US in metro rail network within two years

India's rapid expansion of metro rail infrastructure will position the country as the world's second-largest in terms of network length, surpassing the United States within two years, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal said Saturday.

Addressing the inauguration of the extended Indore metro rail service in Madhya Pradesh, Lal noted that the US currently operates 1,386 km of metro rail lines. With India's network now spanning 1,170 km following the Indore expansion, the gap has narrowed to just 216 kilometres. "I think in the next two years, we will overtake the US and become the world's second-largest country in terms of metro rail network after China," he said, citing China's current network of approximately 8,000 km.

The newly inaugurated Indore metro extension, constructed at a cost of Rs 2,850 crore, reflects the accelerated pace of urban transit development across the country. The achievement marks significant progress since 2014, when metro services operated on just 245 km of routes nationwide.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was present at the inauguration ceremony, underlining the state's contribution to the nation's infrastructure expansion goals.