Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 17-kilometer-long stretch of the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor, running from Duhai to Modi Nagar North, on Wednesday. He also flagged off the Namo Bharat train on this section from the Muradnagar Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) station via video conference from Kolkata.
Extended route to include 3 stations
Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri was also in attendance at the inauguration ceremony. This extension marks the completion of an additional 17-kilometre stretch beyond the operational priority section of the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor. The extended route will include three stations: Murad Nagar, Modi Nagar South, and Modi Nagar North.
"With the inauguration of this additional 17-km section, Namo Bharat services will be seamlessly available on 34 km of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, incorporating eight stations from Sahibabad to Modinagar North," the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said.
Convenience to commuters
Once the Duhai to Modi Nagar (North) section is operational, commuters will have the convenience of travelling on the RRTS from Sahibabad to Modi Nagar (North), covering a distance of 34-kilometre and including eight stations in Ghaziabad district.
Officials have indicated that fare details for the entire 34-kilometre section will be announced soon. The overall RRTS project, spanning 82 kilometers, encompasses a total of 25 stations, with four located in Delhi, eight in Ghaziabad district, and 13 in Meerut district, including a local metro module.
India's inaugural RRTS corridor
The foundation stone for India's inaugural RRTS corridor, linking Delhi to Meerut, was laid by the Prime Minister in March 2019. It was started for passenger operations in October 2023.
"The newly-added 17-km stretch of the Namo Bharat train service extends the coverage of the Delhi–Meerut RRTS corridor beyond its initial operational priority section.
This expansion is poised to boost regional connectivity, making commuting within the area more convenient and seamless," the NCRTC said in a statement.
The RRTS boasts a design speed of 180 kmph and operation speed of 160 kmph. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, stretching over 82 km, is expected to shrink travel time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour.
(With inputs from PTI)
