Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated a 13-kilometer stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, marking a significant milestone in Delhi/NCR transportation infrastructure. The newly opened section connects Sahibabad in Uttar Pradesh to New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, heralding the arrival of Delhi’s first Namo Bharat high-speed train service.
The RRTS corridor, developed at an estimated cost of ₹4,600 crore, is set to revolutionize regional connectivity. With this launch, commuters can travel from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South in under 40 minutes, cutting travel time by a third. The network aims to provide a seamless, efficient, and faster transit option for millions in the National Capital Region (NCR).
During the inauguration, Prime Minister Modi boarded the Namo Bharat train at Sahibabad station, traveling to New Ashok Nagar station. Along the way, he interacted with passengers, engaged with schoolchildren who recited poems and presented sketches, and purchased a smart ticket, showcasing the ease of the advanced transit system.
At the New Ashok Nagar station, PM Modi viewed an exhibition highlighting the train network’s development and received a model of the train from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
Passenger services on the 55-kilometer operational RRTS stretch from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South, comprising 11 stations, will begin at 5 p.m. Trains will run every 15 minutes, offering modern amenities such as phone charging points, luggage storage, and dedicated women’s and premium coache The fare for a journey from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South is ₹150 for the standard coach and ₹225 for the premium coach.
The newly opened 13-km section includes a 6-km underground stretch featuring Anand Vihar station, a major transit hub that connects the Blue and Pink Lines of the Delhi Metro, a railway station, and a bus terminal. This marks the first time Namo Bharat trains will operate on an underground section within Delhi. The New Ashok Nagar RRTS station also provides an interchange with the Blue Line of the Delhi Metro, ensuring greater connectivity.
Spanning 82 kilometers, the Namo Bharat corridor connects Sarai Kale Khan in New Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut. It boasts 16 Namo Bharat stations and nine additional Meerut Metro stations. The first 17-km priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was inaugurated last October.
With this launch, Delhi and Meerut are now seamlessly connected, providing commuters with a world-class travel experience. The Namo Bharat trains promise to not only save time but also enhance the quality of travel with advanced amenities and sustainable design.
BI Bureau
