Gurugram Metro Rail Limited set to take over rapid metro operations as ridership surges to 13.59%

The Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (HMRTC) has initiated the process of taking over of the Gurugram Rapid Metro system from Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) by Gurugram Metro Rail Limited (GMRL).

Till the complete responsibility is transferred to the GMRL, the operations and maintenance of Gurugram’s Rapid Metro system will be undertaken jointly by the DMRC and the GMRL.

To facilitate this transition, joint committees have been constituted and terms of reference (ToRs) defined. A comprehensive methodology, along with definitive timelines, is being finalised to ensure a smooth takeover and uninterrupted commuter services.

Fare revenue rose sharply

1.  62.49 lakh commuters used metro service from April to July

2.  Fare revenue rose sharply by 11.87 per cent

3.  HMRTC recorded a 6.33 per cent decline in operational expenses

4.  Its income grew substantially, reaching Rs 21.11 crore between April and July

This landmark decision was disclosed in the 62nd board meeting of the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, who also serves as Chairman of the Corporation.

The meeting revealed 62.49 lakh commuters used the service from April to July during this period, marking a 13.59 per cent increase compared to the corresponding months of 2024. Fare revenue also rose sharply by 11.87 per cent.

Chander Shekhar Khare, Managing Director, HMRTC, informed that with improved operational efficiency, the corporation recorded a 6.33 per cent decline in operational expenses and enabling achieve a healthier financial balance.

The HMRTC has further strengthened its earnings from non-fare sources. Its income from rentals, marketing, and advertisement rights grew substantially, reaching Rs 21.11 crore between April and July 2025 compared to Rs 15.56 crore during the same period last year. The successful e-auction of 22 advertising sites on metro viaducts and pillars alone is expected to generate an estimated annual revenue of Rs 58.34 crore, with the HMRTC’s share pegged at over Rs 35 crore.

The board also reviewed progress on several key metro and rapid rail projects across the region.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has initiated the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed Delhi (Munirka)–Rohtak Namo Bharat Corridor. This ambitious corridor will connect Delhi IGI Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Yashobhoomi (Dwarka Sector 25), Najafgarh, Bahadurgarh, and Rohtak, providing seamless regional connectivity.

Similarly, approval for the Gurugram–Faridabad–Noida/Greater Noida Namo Bharat Corridor was granted in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister on May 5, 2025, following the NCRTC’s formal request.

The Delhi–Panipat–Karnal Namo Bharat corridor is also advancing steadily, with its revised DPR under active consideration by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Initially approved in December 2020 with a 103.02 km stretch and 17 stations, the project has now been expanded to 136.30 km with provision for 21 stations.

The revised DPR projects a completion cost of Rs 33,051.15 crore, with Haryana’s share estimated at Rs 7,472.11 crore, while promising improved financial and economic returns.

Meanwhile, the DPR for the Delhi–Shahjahanpur–Neemrana–Behror (SNB) Namo Bharat Corridor is also under examination by the ministry, further reinforcing Haryana’s pivotal role in expanding high-speed regional connectivity across the National Capital Region.