As Delhi’s metro network snakes further underground, the capital is racing ahead of its peers, showcasing the transformative power of foresight and execution. By contrast, Mumbai and Pune—India’s financial and IT powerhouses—remain mired in delays and inefficiencies. The discrepancy is glaring, and Devendra Fadnavis, now back at the helm as CM, must seize the opportunity to bridge this infrastructure gap.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has set a benchmark in urban transportation, making strides that go beyond mere expansion. Tunnelling achievements, such as the record-breaking 3-kilometer drive between Derawal Nagar and Pulbangash, highlight Delhi’s capacity for meticulous planning and execution. These feats contrast sharply with Mumbai’s slow-paced and beleaguered Metro Line 3 and Pune’s faltering progress on Line 3 of its own metro network.
Mumbai’s infrastructure woes extend far beyond its metro. Pothole-ridden roads turn monsoons into a commuter’s nightmare, and the absence of pedestrian-friendly footpaths is a glaring oversight in urban planning. The city’s authorities seem adept at launching grand projects but falter in execution, leaving the public to grapple with half-baked solutions. The same malaise afflicts Pune, where Metro lines 1 and 2 have been completed, but the pivotal Hinjewadi–Shivajinagar corridor remains behind schedule.
Delhi’s success with its metro, widely regarded as a model of urban transit, offers lessons that Maharashtra must urgently heed. Political will and effective leadership are paramount. When Delhi’s first metro line launched in 2002, it was underpinned by meticulous planning. Crucially, it maintained this momentum over two decades.
Maharashtra’s metro projects have been marred by inflated budgets, legal disputes, and poor planning. A lack of pedestrian-friendly infrastructure further discourages usage. Such oversights reflect a systemic failure to prioritize commuters’ needs.
Fadnavis’s return to power presents a chance to turn this around. His first tenure as Chief Minister (2014–2019) saw the conceptualization of several infrastructure projects. Now, he must prioritize their delivery. Streamlining bureaucratic processes, enforcing accountability among contractors, and ensuring better inter-agency coordination will be key.
Mumbai and Pune cannot afford to lag any longer. Both cities are critical to India’s economic aspirations. Mumbai, as the country’s financial capital, needs a robust transport network to sustain its global competitiveness while Pune must upgrade its infrastructure to keep attracting investment and talent. Both cities face stiff competition from regional peers like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, which are making strides in urban mobility.
More than just engineering marvels, efficient metro systems are economic enablers, reducing traffic congestion and improving quality of life. Delhi’s metro has shown how transformative such projects can be. There is no reason why Mumbai and Pune cannot follow suit. For Maharashtra’s metros, the time to act is now.
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