Extending the services of Namo Bharat Train, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday inaugurated the additional 17-km stretch of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) from Duhai to Modinagar North section through video conferencing from Kolkata.

The inaugural function at the Muradnagar RRTS station was attended by Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri; General (Dr.) Vijay Kumar Singh (Retd.), Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, and Road Transport & Highways; Rajendra Agrawal, Member of Parliament; Laxmikant Bajpai, Member of Parliament; Satya Pal Singh, Member of Parliament, and other dignitaries.

With this, an additional 17-km stretch from Duhai to Modi Nagar North on the Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut RRTS corridor, beyond the operational priority section, is ready for operations. This extension encompasses three stations – Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, and Modi Nagar North.

“With the inauguration of this additional 17-km section, Namo Bharat services will be seamlessly available on 34 km of Delhi – Meerut RRTS corridor, incorporating eight stations from Sahibabad to Modinagar North,” a spokesperson of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said.

The foundation stone for India’s inaugural RRTS corridor, linking Delhi to Meerut, was laid by the prime minister in March 2019. Remarkably, within just four and a half years, the commissioning of the priority section, comprising five stations, was accomplished, setting new standards in infrastructure development. The same has been started for passenger operations by the Prime Minister in October 2023.

Puri stated, “The launching of additional RRTS section from Murad Nagar to Modi Nagar North Station marks a momentous occasion. Under the esteemed leadership of the Prime Minister, this project embodies ‘Gati se Pragati as the work on the entire RRTS corridor continues at the war footing. Namo Bharat is New India’s vehicle of progress and empowerment. This semi-high-speed rail is seamlessly connecting the urban nodes across NCR with the mainstream of development.”

“Namo Bharat heralds a tectonic shift in connecting cities seamlessly, promoting public transport usage, enhancing accessibility of markets and opportunities, and boosting economic growth. It is a game-changer and a step towards a smarter, more connected region. Initiatives like the RRTS enable seamless transportation, facilitating work commute and enhancing quality of life,” he added.

Vinay Kumar Singh, MD, NCRTC said, “Under the visionary leadership of the prime minister, India is experiencing remarkable progress in the deployment of cutting-edge urban transit systems, which are developed and manufactured within the country under the Make-in-India initiative. We express our gratitude to the Minister, Housing and Urban Affairs, Government of India, the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and all our stakeholders and partners who have supported the implementation of this unique project.”

The Namo Bharat train service will start on the newly-opened section (Murad Nagar to Modi Nagar North) from 6:00 am on 8th March 2024 (Friday). The train service will be available for commuters from 06:00 am to 8:00 pm for the entire section from Sahibabad to Modinagar North. The First Train in both directions will commence operations at 06:00 am and the Last Train will depart from the terminal stations i.e. Sahibabad and Modi Nagar North at 8:00 pm.

For the convenience of commuters, the NCRTC is providing various ticketing options like Digital QR code-based ticket through the NCRTC Mobile Application, ‘RRTS Connect’ by ‘one-tap’ or origin-destination selection, Paper QR code-based tickets which can be generated via Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs) or bought from UPI-enabled ticket vending machines.

These TVMs also recharge the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). Apart from this, commuters can buy the RRTS commuter card. Aligned with the Government of India’s “One Nation, One Card” vision, this commuter card is a National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) which allows the usage of one card in all transit systems and anywhere card payment is feasible.

Every Namo Bharat train has 6 coaches. There are 72 seats available per Standard Coach and 62 seats in the Premium Coach. One coach in every Namo Bharat train is reserved for women, it is the coach next to the premium coach. Also, few seats are reserved in each coach of the train for women, specially-abled and senior citizens.

Aligned with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, the RRTS stations are being seamlessly integrated with airports, railway stations, metro stations, ISBTs, and city bus stops, creating a network of networks of public transit systems. This transformative approach to regional mobility aims to decentralize economic activity, improve access to employment, education, and healthcare, and significantly reduce traffic congestion and air pollution.

The RRTS, a state-of-the-art rail-based transit system, boasts a design speed of 180 kmph and operation speed of 160 kmph. It is geared towards bridging distances within the National Capital Region (NCR), bringing communities and destinations closer. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, stretching over 82 km, will shrink travel time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour. Passing through urban hubs like Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar, it promises to revolutionise regional transportation.