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Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Surge in RRTS rides after one-way scheme on NH58
Meerut: The number of rides on India's first Namo Bharat trains increased from 45,000 to 69,000 per day — a jump of over 53% — after the one-way scheme was implemented on National Highway-58 due to the ongoing kanwar yatra, NCRTC officials said. Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer of NCRTC, told TOI, "Ridership was about 45,000 until June, but surged to nearly 69,000 after road closures for the kanwar yatra. Stations like Meerut South, Ghaziabad, and Anand Vihar see the highest number of commuters." To manage the demand, NCRTC reduced train intervals from 15 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, NH-58 is now one-way, and the Delhi-Meerut expressway will be closed in two phases starting July 19, with heavy vehicles already banned, to make way for the pilgrims. Since its launch, RRTS has recorded 1.2 crore rides. However, reaching Meerut South station remains difficult due to kanwariya crowds on Delhi Road. Anand Harit, a commuter, said, "Travelling by car is tough with road closures. RRTS is easier, but I still need three auto rides to reach the station." Notably, NH-58 has seen conflicts and accidents involving kanwariyas in the past years. As a precautionary measure, the route diversion dedicates one lane to light vehicles and the other to pilgrims.
Hindustan Times
02-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Delhi-Meerut RRTS trials start, line may open soon
Ghaziabad: The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the agency executing the 82-km long Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project, said the project is in the final stages with safety inspections underway for non-operational sections. It is likely to be operational for passengers soon, the corporation added. Officials said that safety inspections on different non-operational sections are underway and a formal inauguration will follow. (Sakib Ali/HT Photo) 'Recently, we conducted a successful trial run for the entire 82km corridor, and the train arrived at all stoppages between Sarai Kale Khan (in Delhi) and Modipuram (the last station in Meerut) in less than an hour. As things are progressing fast, we are hoping that the system will be operational very soon,' said NCRTC's chief public relation officer Puneet Vats. The 82-km project is aimed at connecting the cities of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut with Namo Bharat trains, and the project was scheduled to be completed in June, 2025. The train's journey from Meerut to Delhi will take 55 minutes once the entire 82km route gets operational. Currently, the train services are operational on a 55km stretch from New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Meerut (south), covering 11 stations with two in Delhi, eight in Ghaziabad and one in Meerut. The entire project has 24 stations, with 13 in Meerut. The Namo Bharat trains have four stations in Meerut, while the local Metro will operate on all 13 stations on the same infrastructure. Officials said that safety inspections on different non-operational sections are underway and a formal inauguration will follow. Safety inspections and final approval by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety are prerequisites before the commencement of any passenger operations, they added. 'The safety approval for a section from Meerut (south) to Shatabdi Nagar has been received, while inspections have started for the remaining section from Shatabdi Nagar to Modipuram. Likewise, the safety inspections from New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Sarai Kale Khan are also in the final stages. The inspections for stations of the local Metro module in Meerut are also scheduled soon,' said an officer aware of the development. Officials said the main entry/exits at 13 non-operational stations are ready for passenger operations while the additional work will continue. The entire RRTS project is being built at a cost of ₹ 30,274 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid its foundation in Ghaziabad on March 8, 2019.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
RRTS corridor set for early July inauguration as final trials conclude
Meerut: With the successful completion of a full-scale trial run, the country's first high-speed Namo Bharat project -- worth Rs 30,270 crore -- is expected to be inaugurated in the first week of July. The service will cover an 82 km stretch from Pallav Puram in Meerut to Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi in under an hour. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) announced that the project has successfully conducted a full-length timetable trial run between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram. During these trials, the Namo Bharat trains operated at their maximum operational speed of 160 km/h and stopped at every station. In a first for India, the Meerut Metro also ran simultaneously on the same infrastructure. According to NCRTC sources, while finishing touches continue at stations, the entry and exit points have been completed. "Once security clearances are granted, which is expected to take about a week, it will only be a matter of time before the corridor becomes fully operational," said Puneet Vats, CPRO, NCRTC. He added, "At present, a 4.5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and roughly 23 km between Meerut South and Modipuram in Meerut, remain to be operational. Meanwhile, work is progressing round-the-clock on the 23 km Meerut Metro section, which includes 13 stations (18 km elevated and 5 km underground)." The foundation stone for the project was laid in March 2019, and construction began in June that year. The first phase, a priority 17 km stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, became operational on Oct 20, 2023. Since then, other sections have been inaugurated in a phased manner. Currently, 55 km of the corridor, with 11 stations, is operational.
Hindustan Times
02-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Haryana asks NCRTC to ensure RRTS alignment has provision for future metro rail
The Haryana government has asked the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to plan the alignment and signalling system of the Sarai Kale Khan-Gurugram-Behrore Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor in such a way that if a metro rail is ever built on this corridor, it can use the same track infrastructure. The state pointed out that the RRTS project in Meerut also incorporates the local metro rail. The government also said it would provide 40 acres of land to set up an RRTS depot at either Pachgaon or Dharuhera in joint ownership with NCRTC. The state gave these directions during a meeting chaired by Haryana chief minister Naib Singh Saini on May 5 to discuss the revised detailed project reports of the SNB (Sarai Kale Khan-Nimrana-Behrore) RRTS project and the Delhi-Karnal RRTS project. 'NCRTC has been directed to plan the alignment and signalling systems of the corridor in such a manner that, should a metro system be proposed in the future along alignment, the same track infrastructure may be used as has been done in Meerut. This may necessitate the provision of appropriate station designs to accommodate future metro operations,' said a letter issued by the Haryana Mass Rapid Transport Corporation (HMRTC). The letter said that the Haryana government also asked NCRTC on May 5 to build the RRTS depot on the SNB corridor (Delhi-Gurugram-Behrore) at the terminal station instead of midway at Dharuhera, and to plan it along the lines of the depots in the Delhi-Meerut and Delhi-Karnal RRTS projects. 'As the corridor ultimately connects to SNB in Rajasthan, it is proposed that the depot be located in Rajasthan if this alignment is ultimately finalised. The government of Rajasthan is requested to provide approximately 70 hectares of land for this purpose, especially in light of the planned extension to Alwar/Sotanala or to Jaipur, which would predominantly benefit the state of Rajasthan and its people,' the letter said. The state government said that it will retain ownership of the 40 hectares of land in Dharuhera or Panchgaon and that it shall be responsible for commercial development on it. 'It was also decided that land required by NCRTC temporarily for the construction phase shall be handed over only after the tender for construction has been floated and before the award of tender,' it added. According to the revised detailed project report (DPR), construction for the 102km corridor from Sarai Kale Khan to SNB via Gurugram is expected to begin in August 2026, with completion targeted for November 2031. The project cost is pegged at ₹35,000 crore, to be jointly borne by the government of India and the state governments of Haryana and Rajasthan. Puneet Vats, spokesperson, NCRTC, when asked about the proposal to run a metro train on the RRTS corridor, said that metro trains are already being run in the Meerut RRTS system in areas where population is densely located. 'This is for the first time that metro trains are being run in an RRTS corridor as there is no requirement for a separate track. Metro stations are at short distances and in densely populated corridors it is feasible to operationalise metro trains on same RRTS track. In SNB and Karnal projects, the same can be done depending on feasibility,' he said.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
RRTS trains start final 17km trial run in Meerut
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project, has commenced final trial runs of RRTS trains between Shatabdi Nagar and Modipuram in Meerut. Officials on Friday confirmed that this is the first time trains are running as part of passenger operations and also for trials across the entire 82km Delhi-Meerut corridor. The RRTS aims to connect Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut through high-speed trains. Of the full 82km route, 55km is already operational, covering two stations in Delhi, eight in Ghaziabad, and one in Meerut. 'We've begun trial runs on the final stretch between Shatabdi Nagar and Modipuram. A separate trial between New Ashok Nagar and Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi is also underway. Once both sections receive approval, we aim to make the full 82km corridor operational by June,' said Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer, NCRTC. On April 15, HT reported that trials on the final 17km Meerut section were expected to begin in early May. The 23km stretch in Meerut includes 13 stations, from Meerut (South) to Modipuram. Of this, a 6km segment—from Meerut (South) to Shatabdi Nagar—has already seen trial runs of both six-coach RRTS trains and three-coach local Metro trains since February. Both train types share the same infrastructure. 'Currently, RRTS trains are undergoing trials up to Modipuram, while local Metro trials are active between Meerut (South) and Meerut (Central). We may consider simultaneous trial runs of both in future to assess shared operations. For now, the focus is on opening both stretches under trial in Delhi and Meerut by June,' an official said. The NCRTC has so far commissioned several sections in phases: Sahibabad to Duhai (17km) on 23 October 2023; Duhai to Modinagar (North) on 6 March 2024; Modinagar (North) to Meerut (South) on 18 August 2024; and Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar (13km) on 5 January this year. RRTS trains will halt at four stations in Meerut: Meerut (South), Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram. The local Metro service, intended for short-distance city travel, will stop at all 13 stations, including Partapur, Rithani, Bhrampuri, Meerut (Central), Bhaisali, MES Colony, Daurli, Meerut (North), and Modipuram Depot. The RRTS project, estimated at ₹30,274 crore, is expected to be completed by June 2025. Once operational, it will cut the travel time between Meerut and Delhi to approximately 55 minutes.
