Infrastructure projects are undertaken as public–private partnership (PPP) projects to increase the capacity for delivering multiple projects and to bring in the expertise of the private sector. There is a need to investigate whether the community perception of an infrastructure project delivered in PPP mode differs from a similar project delivered in non-PPP mode. To address this gap, we contrast the social media exchanges of the Hyderabad and the Kochi metro rail project in India. The community in both megaprojects was concerned about accidents, parking charges, and operational issues and accepted the focus on sustainability and inclusivity. Public perceptions on social media showed that the PPP project attracted more targeted criticism – particularly concerning fare structures and operational issues – often directed specifically at the private partner rather than the government. The research shows how listening to the community through social media can help structure better PPP and non-PPP megaprojects and create more societal impact.