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Local
Delhi Metro records 8.24 million boardings on Sept 17 amid DTC strike
✍️ Livemint
🗓 19 Sep 2026, 03:15 AM
👁 9
On September 17, Delhi Metro logged 8.24 million passenger boardings, the highest daily figure recorded, as commuters switched to the metro during a DTC bus strike.
Delhi Metro reported a total of 8.24 million passenger boardings on 17 September, marking the system’s highest single‑day ridership to date. The surge came as the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) workers observed a city‑wide strike, prompting thousands of regular bus users to turn to the metro for their daily commute.
Transport officials said the abrupt shift in commuter behaviour led to unusually crowded platforms across the network, especially during peak hours. While the exact distribution of passengers across individual lines was not disclosed, the overall increase underscored the metro’s role as a critical fallback during public‑transport disruptions.
Metro management confirmed that additional train services were deployed to manage the load and that safety protocols were strictly adhered to despite the crowding. The agency also noted that the record‑breaking figure reflects both the reliability of the metro system and the immediate impact of the DTC strike on city mobility.
Authorities expect ridership to normalise once the bus strike is resolved, but the episode highlights the importance of integrated transport planning in Delhi’s rapidly growing urban landscape.
Transport officials said the abrupt shift in commuter behaviour led to unusually crowded platforms across the network, especially during peak hours. While the exact distribution of passengers across individual lines was not disclosed, the overall increase underscored the metro’s role as a critical fallback during public‑transport disruptions.
Metro management confirmed that additional train services were deployed to manage the load and that safety protocols were strictly adhered to despite the crowding. The agency also noted that the record‑breaking figure reflects both the reliability of the metro system and the immediate impact of the DTC strike on city mobility.
Authorities expect ridership to normalise once the bus strike is resolved, but the episode highlights the importance of integrated transport planning in Delhi’s rapidly growing urban landscape.