India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, is set to become fully operational on Saturday, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi scheduled to inaugurate the remaining 26-km stretch.
The final leg includes a 5-km segment between New Ashok Nagar and Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and a 21-km stretch from Meerut South to Modipuram, completing the entire 82-km corridor. With this inauguration, the full alignment will be open for passenger operations.
Once fully commissioned, the Namo Bharat trains will connect Delhi and Meerut in approximately one hour. The semi-high-speed system is designed for a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph, with trains currently running at speeds of up to 135 kmph, making it the fastest rail-based commuter transit system in the country.
The corridor comprises a mix of elevated and underground sections, with 70 km elevated and 12 km underground. It includes multiple strategically located stations across Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut, aimed at providing high-speed, high-frequency regional connectivity within the National Capital Region (NCR).
Earlier phases of the corridor had already been opened in stages, covering substantial portions of the route. With the inauguration of the final sections, seamless end-to-end connectivity will be established between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut.
Train services on the full corridor are expected to operate at intervals of around 10 minutes, improving frequency compared to earlier operational segments. The system features advanced signalling, modern rolling stock, platform screen doors at select stations and dedicated tracks designed for high-speed regional travel.
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS is being implemented to reduce travel time, ease road congestion and promote sustainable urban mobility across the NCR. The project is also expected to stimulate economic activity, improve access to employment hubs and support integrated urban development along the corridor.
With the commissioning of the remaining 26 km, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor marks a major milestone in India’s regional rapid transit infrastructure, setting the stage for similar high-speed commuter rail networks in other metropolitan regions.
