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The Delhi Metro wasn’t built to get you fit, but try changing lines at Rajiv Chowk every day and tell us it doesn’t. Between the long interchanges, station staircases and corridors that seem to go on forever, many commuters are clocking a workout before they even reach office. For many Delhiites, the city’s most walkable space isn’t a park or a footpath – it’s the Metro .

Long interchanges help reach daily step goals
The Hauz Khas interchange is the longest in the Delhi Metro, with almost a 2km walk, making commuters brace themselves when changing lines there! The never-ending Kalkaji Mandir walk between Magenta and Violet lines and the multi-storey Dilli-Haat INA interchange are also short workouts in themselves, often amounting to four flights of stairs.



‘The Metro commute acts as a great additional workout’
Beyond the gym, fitness enthusiasts see the Metro commute as another workout in their routine. Yasir Nadeem, a student, shares his walking habits and says, “During interchanges, I don’t mind taking the longer route because it helps me stay active. If it keeps me moving, it feels like a part of my workout. I work out every day, but I also try to stay active outside the gym, so I deliberately avoid taking cabs whenever I can and walk as much as possible. Walking gives me little mood boosts, so I genuinely enjoy it. It acts as a great additional workout.”

Maria, who has been commuting by Metro for over a decade, tracks her activity on her smartwatch. “If I haven’t closed my rings for the day, I’m likely to take the Metro and a longer route home to squeeze in some extra steps.”
Gym trainer Karan Kohli comments that the Metro stairs add to a regular workout. “For active people, stairs are better than walking on level ground since the incline gets you both movement and cardio. It may not replace the gym, but when repeated every weekday, they can make a meaningful contribution to your physical activity.”

‘Metro helps me stay active’

Clinical psychologist Aakanksha Verma says, “If I have to change stations, I usually prefer taking the stairs instead of the escalator. While I do make time to work out regularly, the Metro helps me stay active. It’s like killing two birds with one stone!” She adds, “From a psychological perspective, incidental exercise can help some people by making physical activity feel more achievable.”