In a remarkable milestone, the Delhi Metro recorded an unprecedented 2,032,342,972 passenger journeys in 2023, breaching the 2-billion mark for the first time, as disclosed by data from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). This figure surpasses the 1.49 billion journeys in 2022 and even exceeds pre-pandemic levels, setting a new record.
The DMRC, which operates a vast 393-km network with 288 stations across Delhi-NCR, attributes the surge to two main factors. Firstly, the shift from pandemic-induced remote work to regular office operations has contributed to increased ridership. Secondly, the impact of the Pink and Magenta Lines (operationalized in 2018) and the Grey Line (operationalized in 2019) is now more accurately reflected in the data.
A DMRC official, speaking anonymously, emphasized the normalization of operations as a key factor behind the increased footfall. The official noted that the lockdown in 2020 disrupted the upward trend in footfall associated with the introduction of new metro lines, but since 2022, there has been a gradual resurgence in ridership.
In 2023, the DMRC recorded an average of 5.56 million passenger journeys per day, a notable increase from 4.09 million in 2022 and 5.05 million in 2019. On weekdays, the metro’s performance was even more robust, with an average of 6.02 million daily passenger journeys in 2023, compared to 4.47 million in 2022 and 5.46 million in 2019.
This record-breaking achievement reinforces the Delhi Metro’s position as a popular and essential mode of transportation, playing a pivotal role in the region’s connectivity and daily commuting patterns. The significant increase in passenger journeys signals a positive trend in ridership, reflecting the resilience and adaptability of the metro system in the face of challenges posed by the pandemic.
