Transportation in New Delhi

New Delhi moves on three tiers: the Delhi Metro forms the backbone, fast, air-conditioned, and cheap enough that locals treat it like a bus. Buy the rechargeable smart card at any station. It skips the ticket queues and works on the feeder buses too. The second tier is the cluster of app-based cabs and auto-rickshaws (Ola, Uber, Rapido); they're a moderate splurge when the metro doesn't go where you need. But increase pricing near Connaught Place can sting. Traditional black-and-yellow taxis exist. Yet most visitors stick to the apps for transparent fares. From Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Airport Express Metro is the insider choice, clean, luggage racks, and a fraction of a taxi fare. But it shuts down around 11 p.m. If you land late, the prepaid taxi booth inside the terminal is the only safe bet. Ignore the touts in the arrivals hall and insist on the meter or a printed fare slip. Skip the hotel "free pickup" reps who hover outside customs; they'll tack hidden charges onto your bill.