Story perspectives

DMRC logs record 82.4 million rides after strike

By Drooid · Sep 19, 2026, 4:11 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

DMRC Sets Record

DMRC recorded its highest-ever single-day boardings of 82,44,903 passengers on 17 September 2026.
The surge followed a Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers’ strike that began on 15 September 2026.
DMRC added 20 extra trips, including eight trains on 16 September from 08:00-20:00.
The Yellow line recorded 20,89,465 boardings, the highest among all lines on that day.
The Blue line logged 17,28,658 boardings; Pink, Red, Airport Express and Rapid Metro also saw riders.

Summary

Union Calls Strike

DTC Karamchari Ekta Union says 12,000 drivers and conductors are striking for higher wages.
Union president Lalit Chaudhary demands a minimum daily wage of Rs 2,000 and medical insurance.
Transport Minister Pankaj Singh appealed to drivers to end the strike and promised immediate talks.
The strike left only 8-10 buses for schools, disrupting transport for children with disabilities.

History

Historical Context

On 8 May 1974, George Fernandes led 1.7 million Indian Railway workers in a 20-day strike that crippled national transport and heightened tensions that preceded Indira Gandhi’s 1975 Emergency. The precedent of mass stoppages resurfaced in September 2026 when Delhi Transport Corporation drivers walked out, forcing commuters onto the Delhi Metro, which added extra services to absorb the surge.

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DMRC Sets Record

DMRC recorded its highest-ever single-day boardings of 82,44,903 passengers on 17 September 2026.
The surge followed a Delhi Transport Corporation bus drivers’ strike that began on 15 September 2026.
DMRC added 20 extra trips, including eight trains on 16 September from 08:00-20:00.
The Yellow line recorded 20,89,465 boardings, the highest among all lines on that day.
The Blue line logged 17,28,658 boardings; Pink, Red, Airport Express and Rapid Metro also saw riders.

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