Section, stretching from Delhi to New Ashok Nagar, is nearing completion. National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) officials said the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), called “NaMo Bharat”, could operate from Delhi as early as January 2025.
The current transit system is set to redefine regional travel with state-of-the-art facilities, such as onboard Wi-Fi, CCTV surveillance, emergency communication systems, and advanced fire detection capabilities.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor is India’s first regional rail service, stretching 82.15 km from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. The network built by NCRTC will connect Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, consisting of 25 stations and two depots. It is expected to be completed by 2025.
Targeted to handle around 800,000 passengers per day at full capacity, it is the fastest regional rail in India, running at a speed of 160 kmph. The trial run in this section will run till New Ashok Nagar in Delhi.
Currently, a 42-km section is operational between Sahibabad and Meerut South, with nine stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North and Meerut South.
The NCRTC plans to get certification from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS). This will be the final regulatory process before operations begin. NCRTC spokesperson Punit Vats told Financial Express that trial runs between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar are going smoothly and the section could open by the new year.
The scheme aims to improve connectivity in the National Capital Region (NCR) and integrate the Delhi Metro, railway stations, and inter-state bus terminals (ISBTs).
The NCTC is carrying out a comprehensive assessment of trains, tracks, signaling systems, platform screen doors, and power supply infrastructure to ensure accident-free operations. Also, high-speed tests have been announced to validate performance and reliability in the coming months.