Metro in India: How to Use the City Metros as a Visitor

By the government's count in August 2026, metro connectivity has grown from 5 cities in 2014 to 26, and the network from 248 km to more than 1,155 km. The ones visitors use most:

• Delhi, which reaches the airport and most of the city's sights.
• Mumbai, where several lines are run by different operators; Line 3, the Aqua Line, is the city's first fully underground line.
• Kolkata, India's first: its first stretch opened on 24 October 1984, between Esplanade and Bhowanipur. In 2024 Kolkata also opened India's first underwater metro tunnel.
• Bengaluru (Namma Metro), Chennai and Hyderabad, all useful for a city day.

Kochi adds something different: India's first Water Metro, a boat service whose first boat was launched in December 2021.

Each operator runs its own ticketing, but the same three kinds recur:

• Tokens for a single journey. In Bengaluru a token is valid only on the day you buy it, must be used at the station where you bought it, and should be used at the entry gate within 30 minutes; it is collected at the exit gate. Hyderabad's tokens also have to be used from the station where they were bought.
• QR tickets, bought in an operator's app, through a WhatsApp chatbot or as a printed slip. Bengaluru's are valid for the day of purchase, one at a time, and you scan the same code to enter and to leave. Hyderabad sells printed QR tickets and QR tickets through apps and WhatsApp; Kolkata sells QR-coded paper tickets, including returns.
• Stored-value cards for repeat travel, topped up at stations or online: Bengaluru's smart card gives 5 per cent off token fares, Chennai has its Singara Chennai card, and Hyderabad and Kolkata have smart cards of their own.

In Bengaluru the gates let one person through at a time, so every traveller needs a ticket of their own. In Mumbai, the Mumbai One app sells tickets across the metro lines, the suburban railway and BEST buses.

• Delhi: the Airport Express (Orange Line) runs from Terminal 3 to New Delhi railway station in about 25 minutes, with first trains at about 4.45 am and the last towards 11.30 pm; Terminal 2 is a short walk or shuttle away. Terminal 1 has its own Magenta Line station, 5 to 7 minutes' walk away through a covered subway.
• Mumbai: Line 3 has stations at Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and runs south to Dadar, CSMT, Churchgate and Cuffe Parade.
• Chennai: there is a metro station at Chennai International Airport.
• Kolkata: the Yellow Line, opened in August 2025, runs from Noapara to Jai Hind Bimanbandar, the airport station.

Our airport arrival guide covers the rest of the arrival, from immigration to taxis.

Delhi. Delhi Tourism lists the stations for the main sights: Chandni Chowk for the Red Fort and Jama Masjid; Rajiv Chowk for Connaught Place, Gurudwara Bangla Sahib and Jantar Mantar; Central Secretariat for India Gate, the National Museum and Rashtrapati Bhawan; JLN Stadium for Humayun's Tomb; Qutab Minar for the Qutub complex. See our Delhi travel guide.

Mumbai. Line 3's southern stations, including CSMT, Hutatma Chowk and Churchgate, serve the heritage districts of Fort, Kala Ghoda and Marine Drive, and Siddhivinayak has its own stop. See our Mumbai travel guide.

Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata. For what to see, start with our Bengaluru, Chennai and Kolkata guides, then check each sight against the operator's station map.

• Space for women. Chennai Metro runs a women-only coach, checked by its women's security squad. Hyderabad Metro reserves seats for women in half of the first or last coach, depending on the direction of travel. Rules vary by city, so check the operator's signs on the platform.
• Luggage. Bengaluru allows one bag per person up to 60 by 45 by 25 cm; bigger or extra bags need a luggage ticket from the customer care centre. Hyderabad currently places no limit on luggage. If you are heading to the airport with large suitcases, check the operator's rule first.
• Security. Expect your bags and personal items to be screened at the station entrance; Delhi airport's guide to the airport metro tells travellers to be ready for screening of hand baggage and personal items.

For the rest of a city's transport, from taxis to auto-rickshaws, see getting around India, and for travelling alone, our guide for solo women travellers.