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Delhi Metro History: Timeline of India's Urban Lifeline

As of October 2026 the core Delhi Metro network is 374.47 km with 271 stations; including the Aqua Line and Rapid Metro, DMRC operates 416.5 km with 303 statio…

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The network

Four lengths, one system

The core Delhi Metro is 374.47 km with 271 stations. With the Noida Aqua Line and Gurugram Rapid Metro, DMRC operates 416.5 km and 303 stations.

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Phase IV

Two sections open

Deepali Chowk to Majlis Park on the Magenta Line (9.92 km) and Majlis Park to Maujpur Babarpur on the Pink Line (12.3 km), about 22 km in one day.

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Phase V(A)

Cabinet approves three corridors

R.K. Ashram Marg to Indraprastha, Aerocity to Terminal 1 and Tughlakabad to Kalindi Kunj: 16.076 km at Rs 12,014.91 crore.

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The record

8.19 million journeys in a day

DMRC recorded 81,87,674 passenger journeys on the eve of Raksha Bandhan, its highest single day.

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Airport Express

It opened after the Games

The Airport Express opened from New Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21 on 23 February 2011, after the 2010 Commonwealth Games, and reached Aerocity in August 2011.

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Magenta Line

25 December 2017 was Magenta, not Pink

The Magenta Line section from Kalkaji Mandir to Botanical Garden. The first listed Pink Line section opened on 14 March 2018.

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The first train

Shahdara to Tis Hazari

Prime Minister Vajpayee inaugurated the Metro on 24 December 2002 and public service began on 25 December over about 8.3 km.

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DMRC

A dedicated corporation

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was set up as a joint venture of the Government of India and the Government of Delhi. Construction began on 1 October 1998.

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99.95%

Punctuality is operator-reported

DMRC reports 99.95% for 2026, counting a train late only after 59 seconds. No independent audit was found.

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