Countdown to Connectivity: How the Namo Bharat Trial in Meerut Could Transform Lakhs of Lives

In a milestone for connectivity across the region, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has initiated trial operations of the Namo Bharat train on the last 17-kilometre Meerut leg, running right up to Modipuram. This is the final test run before commissioning of the ambitious 82-kilometre Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor in its entirety, which plans to reduce the journey time from Delhi to Modipuram to less than one hour.

 

The trials, which commenced on May 1, cover both the high-speed Namo Bharat trains as well as local metro trains, with end-to-end checks on signalling, overhead electrification, and platform screen doors. All important infrastructure, including track laying and building stations, is confirmed by officials to be in place, and the corridor is still on schedule for a June 2025 opening.

 

Today, 11 stations are in operation between Meerut South and New Ashok Nagar, and the Meerut section has 13 stations, including the newly attained Modipuram. The RRTS project, constructed at a cost of ₹30,274 crore, will cater to up to eight lakh daily commuters, seamlessly integrating with Indian Railways, Delhi Metro, and inter-state bus services for unparalleled regional mobility.

 

Source: The Week, Hindustan Times, Economic Times, Financial Express