By the end of June, travel time from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut is expected to be just 45 minutes, as the final phase of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor nears completion, according to officials.

The 82-kilometre corridor, named the Namo Bharat corridor, is being developed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) as a high-speed regional connectivity initiative. Out of the total length, a 55-kilometre stretch with 11 stations is already operational, while work on the remaining 27-kilometre portion is advancing rapidly. Additionally, construction on a two-kilometre extension from Sarai Kale Khan to Jangpura is still ongoing.

Since services began on the 17-kilometre priority section on October 21, 2023, the corridor has gradually extended its reach. In Delhi, the segment between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar was inaugurated on January 5. The Namo Bharat trains have already served over one crore commuters.

To enhance last-mile connectivity, NCRTC has partnered with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and other mobility service providers. Some operators also offer discounts to Namo Bharat commuters.

The fare for traveling on the Namo Bharat train from New Ashok Nagar (Delhi) to Meerut South is Rs 150 for standard class and Rs 225 for premium class, while the fare from Anand Vihar to Meerut South is Rs 130 for standard and Rs 195 for premium class.

Trial runs are underway on two important remaining stretches: a 4.5-kilometre elevated segment between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and a 23-kilometre section between Meerut South and Modipuram in Meerut. Trains have been seen running the full length of the corridor as part of ongoing operational testing.

The Sarai Kale Khan station, the corridor’s originating point in Delhi, is almost ready. It is equipped with 12 escalators, four lifts, and Platform Screen Doors (PSDs). Five entry-exit points have been constructed, and the related infrastructure is prepared for operations.

In Meerut, the final leg of the corridor includes three additional stations: Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram. Shatabdi Nagar is an elevated station where tracks, platform screen doors, and other systems have been installed. Begumpul, an underground station located in the heart of Meerut’s market area, will serve both Namo Bharat trains and local metro services, with work nearly complete. Modipuram, the last station on the corridor, is situated along the national highway and will feature a Foot Over Bridge (FOB) for safe pedestrian access.

Trial runs have also started on the Meerut Metro, a 23-kilometre local service operating on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat trains. This development marks the first time in India that metro and regional services will share a common corridor. The Meerut Metro line includes 13 stations, of which three are underground.

News source: The Week