Delhi Metro serves as the lifeline for millions of commuters in the national capital. As the summer heat intensifies, a growing number of passengers are requesting the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to prepone the start of services to 5:00 AM. Currently, most metro lines begin their daily operations between 5:30 AM and 6:00 AM, while the Airport Express Line starts earlier at 4:45 AM.
What are the current Delhi Metro operating hours?
Most Delhi Metro lines operate from roughly 5:30 AM until 11:30 PM. While there is no official order to change these timings permanently for the summer season, DMRC often adjusts schedules for special events. For instance, services have started as early as 4:00 AM during elections or major festivals like Chhath Puja to accommodate the extra rush. In March 2026, some lines started at 6:00 AM instead of 7:00 AM for specific inaugurations. DMRC has not released any new notification regarding a daily 5:00 AM start for all lines yet.
Why is there a demand for a 5 AM start?
- Early morning train passengers at stations like Anand Vihar often wait for hours for the metro gates to open.
- Sunrise occurs earlier in summer, leading many residents to start their commute before the peak heat hours.
- Ridership surged to over 60.17 lakh daily passengers this May, up from 52.41 lakh in the previous year.
- DMRC is currently focusing on station and train cooling systems to manage the record passenger load.
