“One of the fastest progressing states, Haryana is redefining how its citizens commute and cities grow — through a robust and evolving transit network that connects metro systems, establishes air linkages, and expands green bus fleets.” — Priya Yadav Associate Editor, Elets News Network (ENN)

This vision is not just an aspiration — it’s becoming a reality on the ground. Haryana today stands at the forefront of India’s urban mobility transformation, setting benchmarks in policy innovation, multimodal integration, and sustainable infrastructure. Defined by a robust and evolving transit network that connects metro systems, modernised bus fleets, air linkages, and last-mile connectivity, the state is reimagining how citizens move and cities grow.

It is only fitting, then, that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, has chosen Haryana as the host state for this year’s flagship national event on urban mobility — a testament to the state’s leadership in translating vision into action. Strategically bordering the national capital, Haryana’s mobility revolution is most visibly embodied in its rapidly expanding metro rail network, which continues to redefine accessibility, speed, and sustainability across its urban centres.

THE METRO TRANSFORMATION

The Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation, set up in 2012, is working towards revolutionising public transportation, reducing urban congestion, promoting sustainable mobility and enhancing connectivity between Haryana’s key cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, Bahadurgarh and Ballabhgarh and the National Capital Region.

HMRTC, which manages the Rapid Metro Gurgaon (11.6 km) loop line, connects commercial hubs in Gurugram and interchanges with the Delhi Metro’s Yellow Line at Sikanderpur. This has eased road traffic congestion by serving 50,000 to 80,000 daily riders, which is up by 13.5 % in early 2025. By 2031, the network will serve millions of commuters, potentially cutting road vehicles by 20%-30% in Gurugram, where daily traffic delays exceed 60 minutes.

Dr Chander Shekhar Khare, IAS, who is currently the Chief Administrator of Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran and also holds the charge of Managing Director, Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation, told the Elets News Network, “ My experience with HSVP has deeply influenced my perspective on the integration of land use planning with mass transit systems. I see this synergy as central to building sustainable and accessible urban centres. The arrival of Mass Rapid Transit Systems in Gurugram, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh has transformed how we plan urban growth – shifting from static zoning models to Transit Oriented Development frameworks.

“We are now incorporating land value capture mechanisms, higher density nodes, and mixed-use development around metro corridors. The experience in Gurugram demonstrates this clearly – areas surrounding the Rapid Metro and upcoming metro extension have seen a rise in high-rise residential and commercial developments where people prefer to walk to metro stations, reducing dependence on private vehicles,” observed Dr. Chander Shekhar Khare.

With commuters making a beeline for metro trains in the most urbanised hub in the state, Gurugram, the state government too has shifted its focus towards contributing to urban mobility through its newest entity, Gururgram Metro Rail Limited. It is a special-purpose vehicle and joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of Haryana, established to spearhead the development and operation of metro rail infrastructure in Gurugram.

In a significant shift toward localised governance, GMRL is set to assume full control of the existing Rapid Metro operations in Gurugram from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation by late 2025. This handover, initiated in September 2025, involves parallel training and capacity building to maintain uninterrupted services for over 50,000 daily passengers.

AIR LINKS – THE NEW SHIFT IN CONNECTIVITY

The past five years have seen Haryana’s aviation sector undergo a significant transformation, evolving from a peripheral contributor to the National Capital Region to a burgeoning hub for manufacturing, training and regional connectivity.

This growth aligns with India’s broader aviation boom, driven by initiatives like UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) for regional air links and investments in infrastructure under the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Key changes include airport upgrades, new flight operations, private sector entry in manufacturing and advanced training facilities, positioning the state as a vital node in the country’s aviation ecosystem.

Hisar Airport, once a modest facility, has emerged as Haryana’s flagship aviation project. In early 2025, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced its development into a major aviation hub, equipped with modern technology and supported by the Airports Authority of India. This includes plans for an integrated international hub capturing short, medium, and long-haul traffic.

“It is a proud day for Haryana because this airport is Haryana’s first airport, which was dedicated to the people of Haryana,” said Hon’ble Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Nayab Singh Saini, at the inauguration of Hisar airport. “A new direction, a new flight and a new era. With direct flights to Ayodhya, Jammu, Ahmedabad, Jaipur and Chandigarh, the state is stepping into a new phase of development,” said the Chief Minister while hailing the start of flights from Hisar airport to multiple cities, marking a shift in regional connectivity.

“The passenger data tells a compelling story of growing adoption. Between April and September 2025, the Delhi Hisar Ayodhya route alone carried 4,320 passengers across various segments, while the Chandigarh Hisar route served 630 passengers in its initial months,” said Dr. Narhari Banger, Advisor, Department of Civil Aviation, Government of Haryana, while speaking to Elets News Network.

“These are not just statistics, these represent the success of an airport in bringing not just the cities but opportunities closer, students accessing education institutions, medical patients getting specialised care, farmers open to new markets and business leaders to new avenues,” said Dr. Banger. Haryana’s Road Transport – Ensuring Last Mile Connectivity The past decade has seen a remarkable modernisation in the past decades driven by state policies aligned with India’s net zero goals and digital India initiatives. This transformation emphasises sustainable mobility, enhanced passenger services, reduced transmissions, boosting connectivity and e-governance to improve efficiency.

Key milestones that the department has achieved include the adoption of electric vehicles, expansion of online platforms and integration of IT systems.

“Public-Private collaboration with leading automobile manufacturers is boosting Haryana’s electric vehicle infrastructure, signalling industry’s support for the EV transition,” Anil Vij, Transport Minister of Haryana, said.

Dwelling on the focus to tackle safety on roads, Anil Vij said, “Over 10 lakh road accidents occurred in the country between January 1, 2023 and March 31, 2025, with Haryana alone reporting more than 23,000 cases. Our digitisation efforts and Transport Project seek to halve road accidents by 2030.”

Haryana Roadways operates a fleet of about 4,000 buses across 24 depots serving intra-state routes and connections to neighbouring states. The department has prioritised rural-urban linkages and modern bus terminals. City bus services with electric buses were inaugurated in Panipat in January 2024, expanding to local routes in cities like Ambala.

“The true measure of any transport policy lies not in its formulation but in its effective implementation on the ground. In Haryana, we are committed to bridging the gaps between policy and practice through seamless technology integration and robust operational systems, Atul Kumar, Commissioner Transport of Haryana, told the Elets News Network.

“Our focus extends beyond creating frameworks to ensuring they function efficiently in real-world scenarios. Safety mechanisms like panic buttons in public transport must be fully functional tools that instil confidence in every commuter, not just compliance requirements on paper. Excellence in urban mobility comes from our unwavering dedication to execute policies with precision and our continuous resolve to enhance the safety, reliability and overall travel experience for all citizens across the state,” said Atul Kumar.

A cornerstone of the department’s sustainability drive is the shift to “green buses”, primarily electric vehicles, to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region and align with the state’s Electric Vehicle Policy. Targets include converting 100 % conversion of the bus fleet to green buses by 2030.

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