Complete guide to Delhi Metro — route map, DMRC app, smart card, women-only car, and airport express

Delhi Metro operates each route.colorIt is customary to call it . Information boards, platform voice guidance, and app maps are all displayed in color, so you don't have to try to memorize Hindi route names, and it's much easier to use if you just remember the colors. Lines that are especially frequently used by Korean residents are:Yellow (Gurgaon), Blue (Noida, Dwarka), Violet (Airport South, Faridabad), and for airport use onlyOrange (Airport Express)It's a line.

5 transfer stations you must know

• Rajiv Chowk— Yellow and Blue transfer. Just below Connaught Place in the heart of Delhi, it's always crowded.
• Kashmir Gate— Red, Yellow, and Violet triple transfer hub.
• Central Secretariat— Yellow and Violet, useful for moving to government offices and embassies.
• Hauz Khas— Yellow and Magenta, convenient for detours toward southern Delhi and Gurgaon.
• Botanical Garden— Blue and Magenta, used when crossing from Noida to South Delhi.

For reference, in Noida areaAqua Lineis not DMRCNMRC (Noida Metro)It is operated separately. It is connected by walking transfer to Noida Sector 51 Station on the Blue Line, but the fares and smart card systems are different, so be sure to check the information board when using it for the first time.

Until a few years ago, using the Delhi MetroTokenThis used to be the basics, but now QR tickets and smart cards are the de facto standard. In particular, since 2022, DMRC has significantly revamped its app and QR system, making it possible to buy tickets and pass through the ticket gate with a smartphone without having to wait in line at the ticket booth.

Official App — DMRC Momentum दिल्ली सारथी 2.0

• QR ticket purchase— When you select the departure station and arrival station, a QR is issued on the app, and you scan it with the QR reader at the ticket gate to pass. There is no need to receive paper tickets or tokens.
• Operation information— You can check the first and last trains for each route, real-time train locations, and information on facilities (elevators, restrooms, parking lots) for each station.
• Fare Calculator— Check the travel time and fare between two stations in advance.
• payment method — Checklist for your first 30 days in Indiaintroduced inUPI·Payment possible with cards issued in India. Since Korean cards are often blocked in authentication, it is convenient to prepare a local Indian card or UPI.

Three practical tips to know

• QR ticket isValid on the day of issuancedo. Instead of buying multiple copies in advance, buy them right before you move.
• QR may not be recognized if the brightness is low. in front of the ticket gateMaximize screen brightnessIf you increase it, the passing rate will significantly improve.
• Airport Express (Orange Line) and regular lines have different fare systems.Purchase tickets separately for each line even within the same appYou must do it.

In addition to QR tickets, there are increasing options for issuing DMRC QRs from third-party apps (e.g. Paytm, WhatsApp mini-app, etc.), but the official app still has the smoothest initial registration, refund, and error response. If you need to use it urgently, firstMomentum दिल्ली सारथी 2.0It is recommended that you install .

If you use the metro more than 3 times a week, it is better than QR.smart cardIt's much more convenient. All you have to do is swipe your card at the ticket gate to pass, and you can even receive discounted fares during certain times and days of the week. There are two main types of smart cards distributed in Delhi.

DMRC Smart card issuance/charge/refund

• Issuance cost— Approximately including deposit and initial charge balance.Around ₹200is common. Please check the DMRC official site for the exact amount and minimum charging unit.
• Recharge— All available at the station ticket booth, vending machine (TVM), DMRC app, and UPI app. App recharge is reflected the moment you tag your card at the turnstile.Even if your balance is low while moving, it is resolved right on the platform.You can do it.
• Refund— When you no longer use the card due to returning to your country, etc., you can return the card to a designated customer care center and receive the deposit and balance minus a small fee. Not an issuing ticket officeCustomer center at a large transfer stationIt is often processed there, so please check the location in advance.

Off-peak and weekend discounts (smart card only)

DMRC When paying with a smart card, depending on the time zone and day of the week,discount benefitsThis applies. Based on the general line, it has been operated roughly as follows. Detailed rates may change, so it is safe to check the official site notice for the latest standards.

• Use off-peak hours— Usually about 10% discount applied
• Sundays/national holidays— Usually about 20% discount applied

This discount isDoes not apply to QR tickets/tokens, only when paying with DMRC smart cardApplies. This is why a smart card is the only answer if you are a daily commuter.

The most common misunderstanding among foreigners when using the Delhi Metro isLadies CoachIt's a regulation. Delhi Metro has one train.First car (car no. 1)is operated for women only, and if a man accidentally boards theSubject to crackdown by security personnel (CISF)This happens. There are actual cases where you will be fined or asked to get off at the next station, so male users must check their location before boarding.

Basic rules for using women-only compartments

• On the platformPink women-only compartment signis clearly marked on the floor and safety screen door. Check the arrow direction and the train's direction of travel together.
• When regular passengers are crowded, female passengersYou are free to board other regular compartments.no see. The women-only compartment is only a space for consideration for women and is not a mandatory regulation.
• It is okay to ride in a women-only compartment with a male guardian.not allowed. Even if traveling with family, a partner, or work, men must ride in the next car (regular car).
• Airport Express (Orange Line)No separate compartment for women onlyIt is operated by organization. Please remember that other routes and regulations are different.

Safety tips when using at night or late at night

• If you have to use it alone late at nightPriority selection for women-only compartmentsAlso, wait on the platform near CCTV and security guards.
• At every station entranceSecurity checkpoint (X-ray, metal detection)There is a separate body search booth exclusively for female passengers. Knowing the location of the search booth in advance will shorten the wait.
• In emergency situations, use the intercom inside the train or on the platform.emergency help buttonYou can request assistance from CISF using .Checklist for your first 30 days in IndiaAlso save the police and ambulance emergency numbers listed here.

Women-only carriages are similarly operated not only in Delhi but also in other metropolitan Indian metros, such as the Noida Aqua Line. Once you get used to the rulesSafety infrastructure applicable throughout IndiaThis means that it becomes.

in deliIndira Gandhi International Airport (IGI)The fastest and most punctual method isAirport Express (Orange Line)no see. From New Delhi Railway Station to IGI AirportTerminal 3 (T3)up to approx.22 minutes, it takes about 30 minutes to reach the final destination, Dwarka Sector 21. This is overwhelming compared to taking over 1 hour and 30 minutes during rush hour to travel the same section with Uber or Ola.

Operation section and features

• route— New Delhi (NDLS) → Shivaji Stadium → Dhaula Kuan → Delhi Aerocity → IGI Airport T3 → Dwarka Sector 21
• speed— With fewer stops and higher maximum speed than regular routes, you can access the airport within 40 minutes from anywhere in the city.
• operating time— Approximately from around 5 a.m. to around 11 p.m. The time may not be correct for late-night flights or early morning departure days for international flights.DMRC First and last trains on the appBe sure to check.
• dispatch— Short intervals during rush hour, and longer intervals toward late at night.
• baggage— The seats and luggage space are designed to be more spacious than the regular lines, making it comfortable to ride with a suitcase.

Tickets and Fees

• Unlike regular routesSeparate fee structureno see. New Delhi ↔ IGI T3 one-way fare is normaltens of rupeesPlease check the exact amount on the DMRC official site or app.
• DMRC You can also pay with a smart card, but please note that the Orange Line may not be eligible for the off-peak and weekend discounts of the regular lines.
• In the past, at city stations such as New Delhi and Shivaji Stadium,Advance check-in for some airlinesAlthough this has been provided, the availability of the service and the airline providing it have varied depending on the period. If you plan to use it, it is best to check the official DMRC information with your airline in advance.

One practical tip. Domestic flights at IGI AirportTerminal 1·2and international flights and some domestic flights are interminal 3It departs from and arrives at. The orange line isStops only at T3Therefore, if your flight departs from T1, please calculate in advance that you will need to use an additional shuttle bus or inter-terminal transportation at T3 to schedule your travel time.

The Delhi Metro system itself is well-equipped, but the number of users is limited.world top rankingAs such, the actual experience varies greatly depending on the time zone and station. It can be surprising the first time you experience the Rajiv Chowk or Kashmir Gate transfer section during rush hour, so knowing a few tips in advance will make your first experience much easier.

How to avoid rush hour

• peak time— It is busiest on weekdays around 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. In this time zoneRajiv Chowk, Huda City Center, Noida Sector 18, Kashmir Gateis particularly crowded.
• If possible, have a morning meetingAfter 10 o'clock, dinner plansAfter 8 o'clockIf you adjust it, the movement itself becomes much easier.Gurgaon area guideIn the office complex area introduced in , congestion is especially severe during peak hours.
• Directions to Gurgaon and NoidaReverse (Counter Rush)Your chances of getting a seat are much higher.

Security screening and import regulations

• At all station entrancesBag x-ray search and body searchThis is going on. There are separate search lines for men and women, so it's not the shortest line.Matches your genderCheck it out.
• Examples of prohibited items: lighters/matches, sharp objects such as cutters/scissors, electronic cigarettes/vapes, large liquids/flammable materials. Purchased sprays and cosmetics may get caught, so prepare separate packaging for new, bulky products.
• Additional screening may occur if you board with large luggage.Airport express is generous with luggageOn the one hand, it is recommended to refrain from using large luggage on regular lines during rush hour.

Basic etiquette and manners

• inside the trainConsumption of food and drinks is prohibitedIt works. Water is generous, but please bring coffee and snacks and do not drink them.
• On the platformPassengers who disembark first come out first before boarding.do. This is basic manners observed even in metropolitan Indian cities, and in crowded stations like Rajiv Chowk, simply following this order will ensure safety.
• Priority seating for the elderly, pregnant women, and the disabled is clearly marked and is actually well maintained. There is a natural culture of giving up one's seat, even for short sections.

If you are not yet familiar with calculating fares or exchanging money,Hindi expressions of numbers, time, and moneyIf you refer to this section, it will be much more convenient when checking fares at the ticket booth or app. Delhi Metro isThe more you get used to it in the first week of settlement, the wider your life will be over the next few years.Since it is infrastructure, I recommend taking the time to test drive one or two routes immediately after taking office.