Delhi Metro runs tight rules, and they actually enforce them - lakhs of fines get issued. Here's what you need to know before you pack a bag or crack open a snack.
Luggage limits
On regular lines you're allowed one bag per person:
| Limit | Value |
|---|---|
| Max size | 80 cm × 50 cm × 30 cm |
| Max weight | 25 kg |
| Number of bags | One (no bundles) |
That's a large suitcase or a big backpack - fine for most travel. Bundled-up sacks and loose cartons aren't allowed. The Airport Express Line is more lenient because, well, airport.
Everything goes through the X-ray scanner at entry, and you'll walk through a metal detector plus a quick frisk. Budget 2–5 minutes at busy stations, more during rush hour.
What's banned
The DMRC prohibited items list is long, but it boils down to:
- Weapons: firearms, ammunition, swords, daggers, large knives
- Sharp tools: screwdrivers, wrenches, cleavers, anything stab-adjacent
- Flammables & chemicals: petrol, acids, explosives, fireworks, corrosives, wet batteries
- Pets and animals - no, not even in a carrier
If security flags an item, you either surrender it or don't travel. There's no cloakroom for banned stuff at most stations.
The alcohol rule (yes, there is one)
You can carry up to two sealed bottles of alcohol per person on the metro. Sealed being the operative word - open bottles are a no, and drinking anywhere in metro premises is strictly prohibited. Note: this applies within Delhi; carrying liquor across state lines (into Gurgaon/Noida) runs into excise rules that are stricter, so don't stock up for a Gurgaon party via metro.
Fines that actually get issued
These aren't theoretical - DMRC's enforcement data shows tens of thousands of people fined:
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Sitting on the train floor | ₹200 |
| Eating / drinking / spitting | ₹200 |
| Creating nuisance, playing loud music | ₹200 |
| Man entering the women's coach | up to ₹250 |
| Travelling without a valid ticket | ₹50 + max fare |
Sitting on the floor is the one that surprises people - on a long ride in a packed train it's tempting, and it's the single most-fined offence on the network.
The women's coach
The first coach of every train (toward the front, marked with pink signage on the platform) is reserved for women. Men standing even partially inside it get fined and marched out at the next station - enforcement drives are regular. Women can, of course, travel in any coach.
Quick etiquette recap
- No eating, no drinking, no smoking - anywhere in the system
- Let people exit before you board (Delhi struggles with this one)
- Seats marked for seniors/differently-abled: give them up
- Keep calls and music on headphones
Follow the basics and the metro is genuinely one of the most pleasant public spaces in Delhi.