15-05-2025
More riders for Rapid Metro, but its losses mounting too
Gurgaon: Though Rapid Metro's ridership and revenue have risen in 2024-25, so have its expenses – retaining the venture as a loss-making operation, official data shows.
According to Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation Limited (
HMRTC
), the agency that oversees all metro projects in the state, ridership of the Rapid Metro went up from almost 1.5 crore in 2023-24 to 1.7 crore in 2024-25, an increase of 13.6% over the year.
Monthly ridership figures also saw a steady upward trend, which shows that more commuters are opting for the metro line, an official said on Thursday. This increase may be a result of several factors such as high fuel costs, which may deter some motorists from using their vehicles, along with inadequate bus connectivity and frequent traffic jams on roads.
Consequently, HMRTC's revenue from Rapid Metro fares has also increased by 14.7%, from Rs 30.6 crore in 2023-24 to Rs 35 crore in 2024-25.
But, data shows, this increase in passenger count and revenue from fares was not enough to offset costs of operating and maintaining the metro line, which runs almost along the entire of Golf Course Road and loops from Cyber City.
HMRTC's expenses, after accounting for operational costs and other spends, increased 15.3%, from Rs 23.9 crore to Rs 29.2 crore, primarily due to maintenance, energy costs, and staff salaries.
by Taboola
by Taboola
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This pushed the net loss from Rs 19.4 crore to Rs 23 crore in the fiscal years.
"The increase in ridership and fare revenue shows the growing reliance on Rapid Metro. We saw a consistent increase in footfall across all months last fiscal year. However, operational expenses also went up. The expansion of the metro network will act as a catalyst for further ridership growth and boost the overall viability of Gurgaon's transit infrastructure," said Dr Chandrashekhar Khare, managing director of HMRTC and Gurugram Metro Rail Ltd.
Currently, the Rapid Metro network spans 11.7km, and has an interchange facility with Delhi Metro's Yellow Line at the Sikanderpur station.
Tenders for the first section of the new metro corridor in Gurgaon, which will link Millennium City Centre and Cyber City, have been floated and eight companies have shown interest. Construction of this metro line is expected to further increase ridership for Rapid Metro, which will be linked to this corridor at the Cyber City station.
"The construction of the first phase of the new metro line will start soon. The tender has been opened, and after evaluating technical and financial bids, the project will be awarded. From next month, metro construction work will begin on the ground," said Khare.
The winning bidder will construct a 15.2km section of the new corridor, with 14 elevated stations, including a spur to Dwarka Expressway. Key stations in this phase of construction include Millennium City Centre, Subhash Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk and Sector 101 along the Dwarka Expressway.
The second phase of the new corridor will cover the remaining 13.3km from Sector 9 to Cyber City.
