Delhi Metro Guides

💰 Delhi Metro Fare Guide 2026

Fare Slabs (Token & Smart Card)

Fares per the DMRC revision effective 25 August 2025 — the first hike since 2017. Concessional fares apply on Sundays and national holidays (26 January, 15 August, 2 October).

Smart Card vs Token

• Token: Single-use plastic coin. Buy at counters or Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs). No discounts.
• Smart Card: Rechargeable card with ~10% fare discount. Minimum recharge ₹50. Available at all stations.
• NCMC (One Nation One Card): National Common Mobility Card also works on Delhi Metro. Tap and go.
• Tourist Card: 1-day (₹200) or 3-day (₹500) unlimited travel cards. Refundable ₹50 deposit.

Money-Saving Tips

• Always use a Smart Card for the 10% discount on every trip
• If visiting for multiple days, the 3-day tourist card (₹500) is the best deal for unlimited rides
• Top up your smart card in multiples of ₹100 to avoid frequent recharges
• Fares are based on the shortest metro route, not the straight-line distance

🗺️ Delhi Metro Lines & Map

Network Overview

The Delhi Metro network spans over 390 km across 288+ stations, covering Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad. It is one of the largest metro systems in the world by route length.

All Metro Lines

• Red Line — Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda) ↔ Rithala (29 stations)
• Yellow Line — Samaypur Badli ↔ HUDA City Centre (37 stations)
• Blue Line — Dwarka Sector 21 ↔ Noida Electronic City / Vaishali (50 stations)
• Green Line — Kirti Nagar / Inderlok ↔ Brigadier Hoshiar Singh (21 stations)
• Violet Line — Kashmere Gate ↔ Raja Nahar Singh, Ballabhgarh (34 stations)
• Magenta Line — Janakpuri West ↔ Botanical Garden (25 stations)
• Pink Line — Majlis Park ↔ Maujpur-Babarpur (38 stations)
• Grey Line — Dhansa Bus Stand ↔ Najafgarh (3 stations)
• Aqua Line — Noida Sector 51 ↔ Noida Sector 142 (21 stations)
• Rapid Metro — Sector 55-56 ↔ Cyber City, Gurugram (11 stations)

⏰ Delhi Metro Timings & Frequency

Operating Hours

• Weekdays (Mon–Sat): First train ~6:00 AM, Last train ~11:00 PM
• Sundays & national holidays: First train ~6:00 AM, Last train ~11:00 PM (some lines may close slightly earlier)
• First/last train timings vary by station — check station boards or the official DMRC website for exact times.

Train Frequency

• Peak hours (8–11 AM, 5–8 PM): Every 2–4 minutes on major lines (Yellow, Blue, Violet)
• Off-peak: Every 5–7 minutes
• Sundays & holidays: Every 5–8 minutes
• Grey Line / Aqua Line: Every 10–15 minutes

Special Days

• Delhi Metro runs on all national holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti) with Sunday schedules
• On New Year's Eve (31 Dec), metro service is often extended past midnight
• During major events (IPL matches, Republic Day parade), extra services may be added
• Services may be curtailed during heavy fog or extreme weather — check DMRC social media handles for updates

🔄 Major Interchange Stations

Key Interchange Stations

• Kashmere Gate — Red, Yellow & Violet lines (3-line interchange, Delhi's largest)
• Rajiv Chowk — Yellow & Blue lines (busiest station in the network)
• Mandi House — Blue & Violet lines
• Central Secretariat — Yellow & Violet lines
• Hauz Khas — Yellow & Magenta lines
• Botanical Garden — Blue & Magenta lines
• Janakpuri West — Blue & Magenta lines
• Kalkaji Mandir — Violet & Magenta lines
• Kirti Nagar — Blue & Green lines
• Anand Vihar — Blue & Pink lines
• Azadpur — Yellow & Pink lines
• Welcome — Red & Pink lines

Interchange Tips

• Follow the coloured signage inside stations — each line has a distinct colour
• At large interchanges (Kashmere Gate, Rajiv Chowk), budget 3–5 extra minutes for walking between platforms
• Interchange walkways have escalators and lifts — look for signs if you have heavy luggage
• During rush hour, interchange platforms get crowded — stand in queue lanes marked on the floor
• MetroNav shows platform-level directions at major interchanges during live journey tracking

🧳 Tourist's Guide to Delhi Metro

Getting Started

• Buy a Tourist Card at any metro station — 1-day (₹200) or 3-day (₹500) for unlimited rides
• All stations have English & Hindi signage — announcements are in both languages too
• Metro stations have free Wi-Fi (sign in via the Delhi Metro app)
• Security check is mandatory at entry — carry your bags through the X-ray scanner
• Use MetroNav to plan your route and track your journey live on your phone

Top Tourist Places by Metro Station

• Rajiv Chowk (Yellow/Blue) — Connaught Place, Jantar Mantar, Palika Bazaar
• Chandni Chowk (Yellow) — Red Fort, Jama Masjid, Paranthe Wali Gali, Chandni Chowk market
• Qutub Minar (Yellow) — Qutub Minar, Mehrauli Archaeological Park
• Hauz Khas (Yellow/Magenta) — Hauz Khas Village, Deer Park, IIT Delhi
• Pragati Maidan (Blue) — India Gate (1.5 km walk), National Stadium
• Jama Masjid (Violet) — Jama Masjid, Old Delhi bazaars
• AIIMS (Yellow) — Safdarjung Tomb, Lodhi Garden (1 km walk)
• Central Secretariat (Yellow/Violet) — Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House, India Gate
• Chawri Bazar (Yellow) — Old Delhi food trail, Nai Sarak
• Akshardham (Blue) — Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple

Travel Tips for Tourists

• The Yellow Line is the most useful for tourists — it connects most major attractions
• Avoid metro during 8–10 AM and 5–8 PM rush hours if possible
• Keep your token/card ready at exit gates — you'll need it to exit
• Metro is air-conditioned — a welcome relief during Delhi's hot summers
• Last train is around 11 PM — plan your evening accordingly

✈️ Airport Express Line Guide

Airport Express Overview

The Airport Express Line (Orange Line) connects New Delhi Railway Station to Indira Gandhi International Airport Terminal 3 in just 20 minutes. It's the fastest way to reach the airport from central Delhi.

Stations & Route

• New Delhi — connects to Yellow Line
• Shivaji Stadium
• Dhaula Kuan
• Delhi Aerocity — for hotels near the airport
• Airport (T3) — Terminal 3 of IGI Airport
• Dwarka Sector 21 — connects to Blue Line

Travel time: New Delhi → Airport T3 in ~20 minutes. Trains run every 10–15 minutes.

Airport Metro Tips

• Fare: ₹60 from New Delhi to Airport T3 (token), ₹54 with smart card
• Operating hours: First train ~4:45 AM, last train ~11:30 PM
• Trains are spacious with luggage racks — comfortable for travelers with bags
• Airport Express runs separately from the regular metro — look for the orange signage
• If going to Terminal 1 (domestic), take the Airport Express to Aerocity then a shuttle bus
• Check-in counters are available at New Delhi metro station for select airlines

📋 Metro Rules & Etiquette

Do's

• Stand on the right side of escalators, walk on the left
• Let passengers exit first before boarding the train
• Offer your seat to elderly, pregnant women, and differently-abled passengers
• Keep your bags on your lap or between your feet
• Use the women's coach (reserved for women) — marked with pink signage at the first coach
• Follow queue markings on the platform floor

Don'ts

• No eating or drinking inside metro trains or stations (water is allowed)
• No smoking anywhere in the metro premises
• No sitting on the floor of trains or stations
• No carrying inflammable substances, sharp objects, or firearms
• No luggage over 15 kg or exceeding cabin baggage size
• No pets (except guide dogs)
• Do not lean on doors or block them from closing

Penalties

• Travelling without ticket: Fine up to ₹200 + excess fare
• Eating/drinking in metro: Fine ₹200
• Smoking: Fine ₹200
• Unauthorized entry in women's coach: Fine ₹250
• Obstructing doors: Fine ₹500
• Repeat offenders may be banned from the metro for a specified period

♿ Accessibility & Special Facilities

Station Facilities

• All stations have lifts/elevators from street level to platforms
• Tactile paths (yellow guiding strips) on platforms for visually impaired passengers
• Wheelchair-accessible ramps at station entrances
• Braille signage on handrails and ticket counters
• Accessible toilets at major stations
• CCTV cameras and emergency intercoms on every platform

Reserved Coaches & Seating

• Priority seats (marked in yellow) in every coach for elderly, pregnant women, and differently-abled passengers
• Women's coach — first coach of every train is reserved for women (marked with pink signs)
• Wheelchair spaces available in the first and last coaches
• Station staff can assist passengers with mobility needs — ask at the Help Desk