India
Delhi Metro records highest ever daily ridership amid severe pollution crisis | India News – Times of India
The Yellow Line, which connects Gurugram’s Millennium City Center to Delhi’s Samaypur Badli, emerged as the busiest route, handling as many as 20.99 lakh passengers. The Blue Line followed closely with 20.80 lakh commuters, while the Red Line recorded 8.56 lakh passengers. The Pink Line and Violet Line saw 8.15 lakh and 7.93 lakh passengers respectively.
Other lines, including the Magenta Line, Green Line, Airport Line and Rapid Metro, also recorded significant passenger numbers. Notably, the Airport Line handled 81,985 passengers, while the Gray Line saw 50,128 commuters.
Rising pollution levels are putting pressure on the metro
As Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air quality, which remained in the ‘severe plus’ category with a pollution level of 488 on November 19, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has ramped up its services to encourage more people to choose the metro over private vehicles. In response to the growing demand, the DMRC is organizing 60 additional trips on weekdays, providing additional capacity to accommodate the increase in passenger numbers.
“Choosing the metro not only helps reduce vehicular emissions but also helps improve air quality in the city,” the DMRC pointed out in an official statement. Since August 2024, the DMRC has recorded the 25 days with the highest number of passengers, underscoring the growing shift to metro transportation amid the pollution crisis.
Convenience and environmental initiatives
To further ease the commuting experience, the DMRC has introduced several measures. Passengers can now book tickets for one or more trips via various digital platforms, making it easy for them to plan their trip without having to wait in long queues. The DMRC has also partnered with organizations like IRCTC, NCRTC and ITPO to offer interconnected travel options for a seamless experience.
In addition to convenience, the Delhi Metro prides itself on its environmental performance. It is the first metro system in the world to be registered for carbon credits by the United Nations, underscoring the city’s commitment to sustainability and reducing the city’s overall carbon footprint.
