# Delhi Metro hits record ridership as bus strike paralyzes city

> A five-day strike by DTC bus drivers forces commuters to the Metro, breaking all-time passenger records while workers demand wage increases.
- Title: Delhi Metro hits record ridership as bus strike paralyzes city
- Summary: A five-day strike by DTC bus drivers forces commuters to the Metro, breaking all-time passenger records while workers demand wage increases. When bus…
- Keywords: delhi metro, dtc strike, bus drivers, wage demands, public transport, delhi, dmrc, passenger boardings, labor dispute, commuter disruption, Metro, hits
- Source: The Economic Times — https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/record-824-lakh-delhi-metro-boardings-amid-ongoing-dtc-bus-drivers-strike/articleshow/134349846.cms
- Author: ET Online
- Published: 2026-09-19T07:20:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: delhi metro, dtc strike, bus drivers, wage demands, public transport, delhi, dmrc, passenger boardings, labor dispute, commuter disruption
## Metro breaks record as buses vanish
Delhi Metro recorded 82.4 lakh passenger boardings on Thursday, its highest ever, as a DTC bus drivers' strike entered day five and left 4,000 of 6,300 buses off the roads.

> The Metro registered 82,44,903 passenger boardings on Thursday, beating the earlier record of 81,88,115 recorded on August 8, 2025.
## Commuters face longer trips and higher costs
Women relying on free bus travel and students heading to Delhi University campuses have switched to autos, e-rickshaws and cabs, significantly increasing their daily expenses.

> We rely on DTC to go to campus but could not due to the strike.
## Drivers demand Rs 2,000 daily minimum wage
Bus drivers are striking for a wage increase from Rs 862 to Rs 2,000 per day, plus social security, medical benefits, annual bonuses, leave benefits and insurance coverage.

> The drivers are seeking a revision in their minimum daily wage from Rs 862 to Rs 2,000.
## Government says drivers aren't DTC employees
Transport minister Pankaj Kumar Singh stated the striking drivers work for private concessionaires operating DTC buses, not the government directly, and said the government would examine pay improvement measures.

> The protesting drivers are employed by concessionaires that operate DTC buses.
## Metro runs extra services to handle surge
DMRC operated 32 additional trips Thursday, with the Yellow Line handling 20.9 lakh boardings, the Blue Line 17.3 lakh, and the Pink Line 9.4 lakh.

> To meet the increased travel demand, DMRC operated 32 additional trips Thursday.
## Strike continues into day five with no resolution
Union leaders say the agitation will continue until the government issues an official order addressing wage and benefit demands, keeping pressure on alternative transport systems.

> The agitation would continue until an official order addressing their demands was issued.
## Key takeaway

When bus services collapse, Metro ridership spikes dramatically, but the underlying issue is workers demanding fair wages and benefits that the government says it will examine.