Shillong: India is on track to dwarf the American metro rail system within two years. Union Minister for Power and Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal confirmed the milestone after opening an expanded line in Indore this Saturday. The domestic network now spans 1,170 kilometers across 26 cities. It sits just 216 kilometers behind the 1,386-kilometer footprint held by the United States.
Lal expects the nation to secure the world's second-largest spot. China remains the clear leader with roughly 8,000 kilometers of track. India has grown fast. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, the system totaled only 245 kilometers across five cities. The minister views this growth as a driver for better living standards and a push toward a developed nation by 2047. "I think in the next two years, we will overtake the US and become the world's second-largest country in terms of metro rail network after China," he said.
The newly extended Indore route covers 17 kilometers between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha. This project cost the government 2,850 crore rupees. It builds upon a previous six-kilometer stretch that linked Gandhi Nagar to Super Corridor-3 stations. Riders can expect daily service to start at 9 am and end at 7 pm. Trains will run every 15 minutes, with more than 80 trips scheduled every day.
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