Delhi Metro’s Golden Line expansion to become the world’s largest city metro system by December 2025 – ET TravelWorld

Come December 2025, the Delhi Metro is on track to become the world’s longest metro network in a single city, surpassing New York’s 399-km metro system. With its current operational network spanning 394 km, the Delhi Metro will set a new global record after the inauguration of a 12-km stretch, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal announced on Thursday.

The expansion is part of India’s rapid metro network development, which now spans approximately 1,000 km across 29 states, making it the third-largest metro system globally.

If reports are to go by, as part of the Phase 4 expansion, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has made significant progress in constructing new underground metro lines. The latest achievement is the completion of tunneling on the Golden Line between Kishangarh and Vasant Kunj stations, a crucial segment of the Tughlakabad-Aerocity corridor.

According to DMRC, a tunnel boring machine (TBM) successfully completed excavation at Vasant Kunj station. The 91-metre-long TBM excavated a 1,550-metre tunnel, with a second tunnel on the stretch expected to be completed by June.

Under Phase 4, the DMRC is constructing 40.109 km of underground metro lines, with the Tughlakabad-Aerocity corridor alone accounting for 19.343 km of underground sections. This expansion is a key step in enhancing Delhi’s urban transport infrastructure, making it more accessible and efficient for millions of commuters.

As of March 2025, the Delhi Metro operates 10 color-coded lines, serving 289 stations across a network spanning 395 kilometers. These lines extend beyond Delhi, reaching neighboring cities such as Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida, Bahadurgarh, and Ballabhgarh, thereby serving the broader National Capital Region (NCR).

The system comprises a mix of underground, at-grade, and elevated stations, utilizing both broad-gauge and standard-gauge tracks. All stations are equipped with escalators, elevators, and tactile tiles to assist visually impaired passengers.