Delhi Metro set a new record with 82.44 lakh passengers boarding on 17 September amid DTC strike; which line experienced the biggest surge? | Today’s news
Delhi Metro witnessed its busiest day on September 17 (Thursday) with 82,44,903 passenger boardings registered as additional services were run to handle the increased rush caused by the ongoing Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus strike, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said.
The latest figure beat Wednesday’s record of 80,71,630 passenger arrivals by 1,73,273.
“DMRC records all-time high passenger boarding of 82,44,903 on September 17,” DMRC said in a post on X.
The DTC bus drivers’ strike, which began on Tuesday, is being held over demands including higher daily wages, health benefits and overtime payments.
Line boarding of passengers in Delhi Metro
Among the metro corridors, the yellow line recorded the highest number of boardings, namely 20,89,465. It was followed by the blue line, which recorded 17,28,658 passenger boardings.
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The Pink Line saw 9,41,527 boardings while the Red Line saw 8,80,059, according to DMRC data.
The total number of passengers on board also includes services on the Airport Express and Rapid Metro Gurgaon lines, taking the total number of passengers over 82 million.
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Ahead of the expected surge in commuters due to the DTC bus strike, DMRC has scheduled 20 more train runs across its network. Of these, eight extra trains were deployed on Wednesday based on operational needs with a special focus on handling the rush during peak hours.
During the DTC strike, special trains were deployed
DMRC ran eight additional trains on September 16, with services running between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM to handle the surge in suburban traffic.
The metro operator said the extended measures would remain in place to help cope with the increased rush and ensure smoother travel for passengers.
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Commuters have also been urged to plan their journeys in advance, especially during peak hours when higher ridership is expected.
“Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) today implemented extensive measures to handle the expected surge in ridership on its network due to the ongoing Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus strike. To ease the pressure on the system, DMRC has increased 20 train runs across its network. A total of eight additional trains were run today as per requirements,” DMRC said on X.
It added: “These measures are aimed at accommodating higher passenger numbers, especially at peak times, and ensuring smoother travel for commuters. The same extended measures will continue tomorrow, 17 September 2026. Eight more trains will be introduced and run between 8am and 8pm, depending on operational requirements.”
Established on 3 May 1995, DMRC is a joint venture between the Union Government and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. It operates a rapid transit network serving Delhi and other parts of the National Capital Region (NCR).
The DMRC oversees a network of about 416 km and comprising 303 stations, including the Noida-Greater Noida corridor and the Rapid Metro network in Gurugram.
