How Accessible Are Indian Metro Systems? A Disability Audit Across 10 Cities
We assessed elevators, ramps, tactile paths, and wheelchair accessibility across India's major metro networks.
Accessibility in India's metro systems has improved significantly but remains uneven across cities. Here's our audit of accessibility features across 10 metro systems.
Assessment criteria:
City rankings (based on our assessment): 1. Kochi Metro — Best overall accessibility; inclusive hiring practices 2. Bengaluru (Namma Metro) — Strong tactile paths and elevators 3. Hyderabad Metro — Good elevator coverage across all 57 stations 4. Delhi Metro — Mixed; newer lines excellent, older sections need upgrades 5. Chennai Metro — Improving; Phase 2 will have world-class accessibility 6. Mumbai Metro (Line 3) — Excellent (newest line) 7. Kolkata Metro — Needs significant upgrades on North-South line 8. Pune Metro — Good for a new system 9. Ahmedabad Metro — Adequate 10. Jaipur Metro — Basic accessibility; needs major upgrades
Key finding: All metro systems built after 2017 have significantly better accessibility than legacy systems. The NCPEDP (National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People) has been advocating for a universal accessibility standard across all Indian metros.