Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a key 13-kilometre section of the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, marking a significant milestone in India’s infrastructural development.
This newly inaugurated section stretches from Sahibabad in Ghaziabad to New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, increasing the operational length of the Namo Bharat RRTS corridor to a total of 55 kilometres, which now includes 11 stations.
The launch event, which took place around 11 a.m. on Sunday, saw Prime Minister Modi himself embark on a journey aboard the Namo Bharat train from Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar.
During the ride, the Prime Minister interacted with a group of school children and even booked his ticket using the UPI-based QR code system. This move reflects the government’s emphasis on promoting digital payments and technology in daily life.
From 5 p.m. onwards, passenger services on this section will commence, with trains operating at a frequency of every 15 minutes.
The fare for a trip from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South is set at Rs 150 for a standard coach and Rs 225 for a premium coach. This affordable fare is expected to attract a large number of commuters and reduce the congestion on roads between Delhi and Meerut.
One of the standout features of this newly inaugurated section is the six-kilometre underground stretch, which includes the Anand Vihar station.
Anand Vihar is an important transit hub, offering connections to the Blue and Pink Lines of the Delhi Metro, as well as to the railway station and bus terminal.
This is the first time that Namo Bharat trains will operate in an underground section, further elevating the project’s significance. The New Ashok Nagar RRTS station will also be an interchange with the Delhi Metro’s Blue Line, further enhancing connectivity for commuters.
This 13-kilometre stretch is part of the larger Namo Bharat RRTS project, which aims to improve connectivity between Delhi and Meerut. Previously, the 17-kilometre priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was inaugurated on October 20, 2024.
In addition, a 42-kilometre stretch from Sahibabad to Meerut South with nine stations had already begun operations. The completion of the new section ensures that Delhi is now directly connected to Meerut, significantly reducing travel time.
The journey from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South, which would typically take over an hour by road, can now be completed in under 40 minutes, offering great convenience for daily commuters.
The Namo Bharat RRTS project has already benefited over 50 lakh commuters, with more sections of the corridor set to be completed soon.
The stretch from New Ashok Nagar to Sarai Kale Khan and the one from Meerut South to Modipuram are progressing rapidly and are expected to be operational by June 2025.
Once the entire 82-kilometre corridor from Sarai Kale Khan in New Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut is fully operational, it will feature a total of 16 Namo Bharat stations, in addition to nine stations for the Meerut Metro.
The completion of this entire project will create a transformative regional transit system, offering faster, more efficient travel between Delhi and Meerut.
Apart from improving connectivity, the Namo Bharat RRTS corridor is also expected to ease traffic congestion on the roads. By encouraging people to use public transport, the corridor will reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads.
The project is projected to remove over one lakh private vehicles from the streets and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 2.5 lakh tonnes annually, contributing to a cleaner environment and promoting sustainability.
Ahead of the inauguration, the Delhi Police issued an advisory due to traffic restrictions in East Delhi, particularly on roads like NH-9 and NH-24, which stretch from Sarai Kale Khan to UP Gate.
Other affected roads included Ghazipur Road and New Ashok Nagar Metro Station Road, which saw significant traffic control measures between 7 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday. These measures were put in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the event and minimise disruptions for the general public.
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