The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has achieved a significant milestone in regional connectivity by completing the tunnelling for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor. The breakthrough was marked by the successful retrieval of the Sudarshan 4.4 Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) at Vaishali, Ghaziabad, completing the 2 km long tunnel between Anand Vihar and Sahibabad. This accomplishment marks the end of tunnelling for the entire 82-km corridor, with the remaining 70 km being elevated.

NCRTC used seven state-of-the-art Sudarshan TBMs for the 12 km long underground section, with over 80,000 pre-cast segments forming the tunnel rings. The diameter of the RRTS tunnels is 6.5 m, optimised for a design speed of 180 Kmph. The challenging tunnelling journey successfully navigated close proximity to industrial buildings, high-tension electric cables, existing metro structures, and densely populated urban zones.

With tunnelling completed, the focus shifts to track laying and overhead electrification. NCRTC aims to open the 82-km corridor for public use by 2025, with a 17-km Priority Section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot becoming operational soon.