Delhi Metro: NCR's 'lifeline' turns 20, begins new era of modern commuting

Metro rails are considered a test case for public-private partnership (PPP), but DMRC's brush with PPP has not been a happy one

For a city that is considered thousands of years old, a two-decade old addition to its landscape should hardly evoke feelings of immense pride. But Delhi Metro, which turns 20 today, has become an iconic institution of the city, mirroring its economic growth, and carrying close to 5 million passengers daily (as of October 2022).

Flagged off by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the longest serving chief minister of Delhi, Sheila Dixit, Delhi Metro started its first run two years and nine months ahead of schedule – a rare record for a country infamous for delayed infrastructure projects.