In a move to connect the farther ends of the National Capital Region with Delhi, via a semi-high-speed rail corridor, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), in 2017, planned three Rapid Rail Transit corridors – Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Alwar. The Delhi-Meerut RRTS will pass through Ghaziabad and will run at a speed of 160 kmph. Prime minister Narendra Modi, on October 20, 2023, inaugurated the 17-km priority section of the 82.15-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The section, which connects Sahibabad and Duhai in Ghaziabad, will be available for passenger operations. Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri has announced that the trains of RRTS will be known as ‘Namo Bharat’, according to media reports.
The foundation stone for the project was laid by in March 2019. The government allocated has Rs 3,596 crore to the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor during the Union Budget 2023-24. The National Capital Area Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is implementing the project. The entire 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut stretch is likely to be completed by June 2025.
According to the NCTRC, the section towards Meerut is expected to be opened after opening the 17-km priority section, between Sahibabad and Duhai in Ghaziabad in June 2023. The 42-km RRTS stretch from Sahibabad to Meerut (South) has been completed. The Duhai-Meerut (South) section will have four stations – Muradnagar, Modinagar (North) and Modinagar (South) in Ghaziabad along with the Meerut (North) and Meerut (South) stations. According to a TOI report, trains going from Ghaziabad to Meerut South is expected to be ready in six months. The trial run of the Namp Bharat train on the RRTS section from Duhai to Modi Nagar South was successfully conducted on December 10, 2023. The NCRTC will also launch its mobile app RAPIDX Connect and indigenously manufactured platform screen corridor.
PM Modi will inaugurate the 17-km section from Duhai to Modi Nagar North on March 6, 2024, according to media reports. According to NCRTC officials, the inaugural journey of a Namo Bharat train on this section will be remotely flagged off by the prime minister from Muradnagar Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) station through a video conference. Once operational, the new RRTS section will provide connectivity to Sahibabad till Modi Nagar North.
Delhi to Meerut Metro: Quick facts
| Project name | Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). |
| Foundation stone laid on | March 2019 |
| Length | 82 km |
| Inauguration | June 2025 |
| Train speed | 160 kmph |
| Stations | 24 |
| Route | Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram |
| Cost | Rs 30,274 crore |
Delhi to Meerut Metro: Latest news
Ghaziabad RRTS station to be linked with Delhi Metro Red Line
December 11, 2023: The NCRTC is planning to build a 300-metre foot overbridge connecting the Shaheed Sthal Metro Station on the Delhi Metro’s Red Line and the Ghaziabad station of the RRTS corridor, officials said as cited in media reports. The project is expected to take around three months to complete, officials said. Currently, commuters are required to cross the street to switch from the Metro to the RRTS or vice versa. The new footbridge will enable passengers to easily switch between the two facilities.
UP govt finalises 72-km RRTS route from Ghaziabad to Noida airport
December 7, 2023: The UP government has approved a 72-kilometre RRTS corridor between Ghaziabad’s 17-km priority section and the upcoming Noida International Airport in Jewar, officials said, as cited in media reports.
The 72-km section of the RRTS will branch out from Ghaziabad station on the priority section and terminate at the Noida Airport in Jewar. The route will cover areas such as Greater Noida West, Surajpur and Ecotech Pari Chowk. It is expected to be operational by 2030.
Delhi govt to pay its last instalment of share for RRTS corridor
October 4, 2023: The Delhi government is likely to pay the last instalment of its share in the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project, as per media reports. The reports cited a senior official stating that the amount of the instalment is Rs 415 crore after taxes. The total contribution of the Delhi government is Rs 1,180 crore. In March 2019, the Delhi government had paid the first instalment of Rs 265 crore.
RRTS stations will have AI systems, police posts
Aug 2, 2023: The stations on the RRTS network in Uttar Pradesh will be equipped with several security and safety levels, and AI-based security checks at 21 stations will be introduced, according to media reports. Moreover, the NCRTC has planned to set up a police station at Duhai Depot and police posts at Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai RRTS stations in Ghaziabad. The agency has implemented a security system based on the latest technologies to ensure the safety of the commuters along the RRTS corridor.
Delhi to Meerut RRTS route project details
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS is an 82-km rail corridor that will connect the national capital of Delhi with Meerut, via Ghaziabad. The corridor will have 25 stations (including access points to other transit corridors). The RRTS will also have two depots at Duhai and Modipuram. The priority section from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot will include five stations – Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot.
The project is being developed using state-of-the-art technology, and will provide a modern, air-conditioned, fast, and reliable transport services for the commuters in the NCR.
See also: All about Delhi Metro Phase 4
Delhi-Meerut RRTS route
| Sarai Kale Khan (Pink Line Metro, Indian Railways, ISBT) | Muradnagar |
| New Ashok Nagar (Blue Line Metro) | Modi Nagar South |
| Anand Vihar (Blue Line Metro, Pink Line Metro, Indian Railways and ISBT) | Modi Nagar North |
| Sahibabad (Blue Line Metro, Indian Railways) | Meerut South |
| Ghaziabad | Shatabdi Nagar |
| Guldhar | Begumpul |
| Duhai | Modipuram |
The corridor will start from Sarai Kale Khan station in Delhi and will pass through some of the most populated areas of east Delhi and Ghaziabad to reach Meerut, terminating at Modipuram depot. A sizeable part of this route will be underground, including under the river Yamuna. Hazrat Nizamuddin and Sarai Kale Khan will also act as transit hubs, due to the presence of the Nizamuddin railway station, metro station and Sarai Kale Khan ISBT.
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Delhi-Meerut RRTS: Cost
The project is being built at an expense of Rs 30,274 crores. The Central government and the Delhi and Uttar Pradesh state governments made contributions to the Delhi Meerut RRTS project. The Government of India has contributed 20% out of the total funding while the Government of Delhi and UP have contributed 3.22% and 16.78%, respectively.
Further, through multilateral funding, the project will receive an investment of around 1 billion USD from Asian Development Bank (ADB), 500 million USD from New Development Bank (NDB), and 500 million USD from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Delhi-Meerut RRTS: Key features
- The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is India’s first RRTS corridor and will be integrated with various modes of transport, for seamless movement of commuters.
- All RRTS stations will have platform screen doors for enhanced commuter safety.
- The NCRTC is also in talks to obtain a loan to the tune of 60% of the project’s cost. The remaining 40% will be borne by the centre and the UP and Delhi governments.
- For the first time in the country, drones have been allowed by the civil aviation ministry, for GIS mapping of the corridor. The remotely piloted aircraft system will be utilised for data acquisition, for mapping and implementing the web-based information system platform.
- The RRTS rolling stock will be the first-of-its-kind in India, with a design speed of 180 kmph. With a stainless steel outer body, these aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight and fully air-conditioned.
- European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 of ERTMS will be used for signalling system.
- There will be electrification of 25kV, 50 Hz AC overhead catenary.
- The NCRTC will cover 70 per cent of the total energy requirement of the RRTS corridor through solar energy, saving fuel and reducing air pollution and thus generating carbon credit during the operation of the RRTS corridor, as per NCRTC.
- A total of nine stations on the RRTS network will provide multimodal integration to facilitate connections with other transport systems. Of these, three stations are in Delhi, four in Ghaziabad and two in Meerut.
- Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Sarai Kale Khan and Shaheed Sthal stations will be designed to become multi-modal transport facilities.
Delhi-Meerut RRTS: Construction timeline
- May 2017: The Uttar Pradesh Government approved the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.
- Feb 2019: Centre approved Rs 30,274 crores for project.
- Mar 2019: PM Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the project.
- Mar 2022: The tunnelling work for underground section of the corridor in Meerut started.
- Jan 2023: The dynamic test runs along the corridor was conducted.
- Oct 2023: The Sahibabad-Duhai priority section of the RRTS corridor was inaugurated.
Delhi to Meerut RRTS: Fare
In June 2023, the NCRTC decided to revise the fare chart of the Delhi Meerut Rapidx train to make it more competitive than existing transportation modes. The estimated fare will range between Rs 3 to 4 per km. Commuters may have to pay around Rs 170 to 200 for travelling between Anand Vihar and Meerut Central. The fare structure will be fixed based on research, considering international standards and existing fares of other public transport options.
UPI-enabled Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) will be implemented for the first time in India. In addition to this, passengers can also buy tickets using cash, credit/debit cards and national common mobility card (NCMC) wallets. Users can also pay for tickets through the RAPIDX Connect mobile application by generating a digital QR code.
FAQs
Which metro station will be aligned with Delhi-Meerut rapid rail route?
Anand Vihar, Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar will be aligned with the Delhi Meerut RRTS.
What kind of train will run over the track of Delhi Meerut RRTS?
The RRTS rolling stock can run up to speeds of 180 kmph.
Who got the Delhi-Meerut RRTS project contract?
L&T has bagged the contract for the construction work of package-1 and package-2 of the Delhi Meerut RRTS.
How many RRTS metro stations are there in Meerut?
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor will comprise a total of 24 stations, including the depots at Duhai and Modipuram.
Which are the rapid rail stations in Meerut?
The stations on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS route are Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, Meerut South, Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul and Modipuram.
What is the difference between metro and RRTS?
The RRTS project is designed to provide fast connectivity to commuters to travel a long distance from one city to another, whereas the Delhi metro system is designed to provide connectivity within the city and its neighbouring areas. Further, the Delhi metro trains run at a speed of 80 kilometre per hour (kmph), while the RRTS trains will run at a speed of 180 kmph.
What is the total cost of RRTS?
The RRTS project is being developed at a cost of Rs 30,274 crore.
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