How to make India's metro systems serve our cities better?

This episode of In Focus by The Hindu explores the growing scale and strategic challenges of India's expanding metro networks, which are projected to span over 1,000 kilometers across 26 cities by 2025. Host Vibhavi Madhava interviews Professor Shalini Sinha from CEPT University Ahmedabad, who emphasizes that while metro expansion is impressive, it must evolve from isolated corridors to integrated, people-centric transport systems. She highlights critical gaps in last-mile connectivity, weak bus integration, and the lack of coordinated governance through unified transport authorities. Despite Delhi’s recent move toward a unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMTA), many cities still operate with fragmented institutions, leading to disjointed planning. Professor Sinha stresses that true success lies not in building more metro lines, but in creating seamless, affordable, and sustainable mobility ecosystems that prioritize walking, cycling, and integrated fares. She also calls for demand-side measures like parking pricing and congestion management, and urges cities to shift from a mode-focused mindset to a holistic transport system approach. The episode concludes with a vision of public transport as a preferred choice for all, not just the economically disadvantaged.