Delhi Metro Records Over 8.05 Million Boardings on Monday as Pollution Curbs Push Commuters to Public Transport

Delhi Metro recorded 8,054,968 passenger boardings on Monday, an increase of more than 830,000 on the figure reported, as worsening air pollution pushed commuters toward public transport. The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region on Monday, with restrictions on certain non-compliant vehicles. (Photo: file image of a Delhi Metro platform.)

Weekday extra trips rise to 40

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation said it will run 20 more weekday trips from November 3, bringing total additional weekday services to 40, with further arrangements at stations as required. Traffic police have also stepped up vehicle checks at the capital's borders to enforce pollution-control rules.

The Stage II backdrop

Stage II measures include stronger dust controls, expanded road cleaning and water sprinkling, higher parking charges to discourage private vehicle use, and an appeal to residents to prefer buses and the Metro. On Tuesday morning several Delhi monitoring stations recorded air quality index readings above 400, in the severe category, with Jahangirpuri at 451, days before Diwali on November 8.

Sources: NewsPoint; Urban Acres; Central Pollution Control Board data (2026-11-03).