India is a huge country with many cities. Some cities are bigger and more important than others. These big cities are called metro cities or metropolitan cities. They are places where people from all over the country come to work, study, and live. Metro cities in India are full of opportunities. They have better jobs, schools, hospitals, and transportation systems. They are also centers for business, culture, and government work.
People often ask, how many metro cities in India are there? Right now, there are 8 major metro cities. These cities are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune. These cities are included in the list of metro cities in India. Earlier, there were only 4 metro cities in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Metropolitan cities in India are growing fast. Many new cities are also becoming important. That is why it is important to know about the top 10 metro cities in India and the top 10 metropolitan cities in India. People also wonder about the total metropolitan cities in India because many cities are becoming bigger and better.
Cities in India are also divided into different groups called tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities. Tier 1 cities in India are the most developed. Smaller cities are called tier 2 cities and tier 3 cities. Knowing about the list of tier 1 cities in India and the tier 2 cities list in India helps people understand which cities are growing quickly.
Another exciting change is the development of smart cities. The government started the Smart Cities Mission in India to make cities modern and clean. Many cities are part of the list of smart cities in India. By 2025, some cities will become the top 10 smart city in India 2025 list.
In this article, we will look closely at the list of metro cities in India, how many cities have metro in India, and also understand about tier 1 2 3 cities in India and smart cities. This simple guide will help you know everything you need about India's growing and vibrant cities.
Metro cities in India are large cities that are very important for the country’s economy and lifestyle. These cities have large populations, big industries, international airports, and many educational and health facilities. They attract people from all over the country for jobs, education, and better living standards.
Many people ask, how many metro cities in India? According to the government, there are currently 8 metro cities. These are the largest and most developed cities.
| S. No. | Metro City | State |
| 1 | Delhi | Delhi |
| 2 | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 4 | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| 6 | Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 7 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 8 | Pune | Maharashtra |
These are the cities included in the list of metro cities in India.
Earlier, only 4 cities were called metro cities. These were:
These 4 cities were the biggest and most developed during the early days. Even today, many people talk about the 4 metro cities in India.
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Metropolitan cities in India are those cities which have very large populations, usually more than 10 lakh (1 million) people. They are the center of trade, education, culture, and government work.
If you are wondering how many metropolitan cities in India, there are around 50+ cities that are considered metropolitan because of their size and importance.
| Metropolitan City | State |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
| Surat | Gujarat |
| Nagpur | Maharashtra |
| Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh |
| Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
This is just a small part of the total metropolitan cities in India.
Here is a list of the top 10 metro cities in India based on development, economy, and lifestyle:
| Rank | City | State |
| 1 | Delhi | Delhi |
| 2 | Mumbai | Maharashtra |
| 3 | Bengaluru | Karnataka |
| 4 | Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 5 | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| 6 | Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 7 | Pune | Maharashtra |
| 8 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 9 | Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 10 | Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
This is often referred to as the top 10 metropolitan cities in India.
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Cities in India are also classified as tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities based on their population, economy, and facilities.
Tier 1 cities are the most developed cities. These include:
These cities are included in the list of tier 1 cities in India.
Tier 2 cities are smaller than tier 1 but are growing fast. Examples are:
| City | State |
| Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| Surat | Gujarat |
| Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| Kochi | Kerala |
This is part of the tier 2 cities list in India.
Tier 3 cities are even smaller cities but they are important locally. These cities have small to medium populations and developing industries.
Examples:
Thus, when we talk about tier 1 2 3 cities in India, we are talking about the development levels of Indian cities.
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Another important question is, how many cities have metro in India?
Currently, there are 15+ cities in India that have operational metro train systems.
| City | Metro System |
| Delhi | Delhi Metro |
| Mumbai | Mumbai Metro |
| Bengaluru | Namma Metro |
| Hyderabad | Hyderabad Metro |
| Chennai | Chennai Metro |
| Kolkata | Kolkata Metro |
| Lucknow | Lucknow Metro |
| Jaipur | Jaipur Metro |
| Kochi | Kochi Metro |
| Nagpur | Nagpur Metro |
So when you ask how many cities in India have metro, remember that more cities are being added each year.
The Indian government started the Smart Cities Mission in India in 2015. The goal is to make cities better with modern technology, good roads, better transportation, and clean water.
Under the Smart Cities Mission, 100 cities were chosen. Some important ones are:
This is just a part of the list of smart cities in India.
By 2025, the top smart cities in India are expected to be:
| Rank | Smart City | State |
| 1 | Pune | Maharashtra |
| 2 | Surat | Gujarat |
| 3 | Bhubaneswar | Odisha |
| 4 | Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 5 | Ahmedabad | Gujarat |
| 6 | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 8 | Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | Chennai | Tamil Nadu |
| 10 | Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh |
This table shows the expected top 10 smart city in India 2025 list.
India’s cities are growing fast. The list of metro cities in India shows us where most of the action is happening. Knowing how many metro cities in India and how many cities have metro in India helps us understand the country's growth. The old 4 metro cities in India (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) are still the leaders, but now we have many more important cities. Understanding tier 1, tier 2, and tier 3 cities in India gives us an idea about different city sizes and their growth potential.
Finally, with the Smart Cities Mission in India, many cities are becoming modern and people-friendly. The list of smart cities in India and the top 10 smart city in India 2025 list show the future of urban India. India’s journey from a few big metro cities to hundreds of metropolitan and smart cities is truly amazing. Every city is contributing to making India a stronger, smarter, and better country for its people.
There are 8 major metro cities in India: Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, and Pune.
The 4 original metro cities in India are Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai.
Metro cities and metropolitan cities are the same. Both terms refer to large and developed cities with big populations and important economic activities.
Currently, more than 15 cities in India have operational metro train systems, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
Tier 1 cities in India are the most developed cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai.
Cities are divided based on their population, economy, and development. Tier 1 cities are the most developed, tier 2 cities are growing fast, and tier 3 cities are smaller.
The Smart Cities Mission in India is a government program started in 2015 to make 100 cities modern, clean, and efficient using new technologies.
The top smart cities by 2025 are expected to be Pune, Surat, Bhubaneswar, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Indore, Bhopal, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam.
There are around 50+ metropolitan cities in India, including tier 1 and many large tier 2 cities.