A Ukrainian woman has gone viral after documenting her first-ever ride on the Chennai Metro and praising its cleanliness. Mariia, who is married to an Indian man, shared the video on Instagram, where it has drawn wide attention and warm comments.
She described the experience as surprisingly pleasant, from buying a digital ticket to exploring the station and stepping onto the train. What struck her most was how clean and well maintained everything was, cleaner, in her words, than public transport in her own country.
"Indian metros are so cute. Ticket cost me only 30 rupees. It is so maintained, so maintained, so beautiful and inside this is super clean, more clean than in my own country," she said in the clip. In the caption of the post, she wrote simply, "Indian metros are so cute."
One of the first things that caught her attention was the price. Her QR-based digital ticket cost just Rs 30, and she was surprised at how inexpensive the ride was for the quality of the service around her.
Viewers agree, and invite her to try more metros
Viewers agreed with her in the comments. "Chennai metro is the cleanest among Indian metros," one person wrote, while another said, "I travelled all metros in India; Chennai is one of the best metros." Others invited her to try Hyderabad and other metro networks across the country.
"Thanks and welcome to India," another commenter wrote. The response has been warm throughout, with many treating her praise as a compliment to the city as much as to the metro itself.
The video joins a longer list of foreign visitors praising metro trains across India for their modern infrastructure, ease of use and facilities. Mariia is the latest to be left impressed after travelling on one for the first time.
Chennai Metro responds
The video also caught the attention of Chennai Metro Rail Limited, known as CMRL, which replied to her post and thanked her for sharing the experience. "We are happy to know that you had a pleasant travel experience with Chennai Metro," the metro authority said.
CMRL added that stations and trains are regularly maintained for hygiene and a welcoming ambience. "We regularly maintain our stations and trains to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and a welcoming ambience for everyone. Thank you for travelling with Chennai Metro," it said.
The story rests on Mariia's video and her own words, and the claims in the original post have not been independently verified. What is certain is the reaction: a short clip about a Rs 30 ride has turned into a small celebration of the Chennai Metro.
