Metro Rail: A Catalyst for Sustainable Urban Growth and Financial Resilience

• India's metro rail network has emerged as the backbone of urban mass rapid transit, expanding from 248 km (2014) to 1,095 km (2025) across 26 cities.
• Beyond mobility, metros are now framed as instruments of sustainable urbanisation, financial inclusion, and household financial resilience (PMEAC study).
• Critical for UPSC: intersects GS-I (Urbanisation), GS-II (Centre–State financing), GS-III (Infrastructure, Environment).