Delhi-Meerut Travel Slashed to 40 Minutes with RRTS Launch; Metro Phase-4 Inaugurated.

Ahead of the crucial Assembly elections in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated two major infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and boosting Delhi’s metro network. These projects include the launch of direct connectivity between Delhi and Meerut via the New Ashok Nagar-Sahibabad stretch of the Namo Bharat service and the extension of the Delhi Metro’s Magenta Line.

The operationalisation of the 12-kilometre stretch between Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar in the Delhi-Meerut corridor is estimated to cost around ₹4,600 crore. This addition will enable Namo Bharat trains to reduce travel time between New Ashok Nagar and Meerut South to under 40 minutes. The new 13 km section includes both underground and elevated tracks, with Anand Vihar being a prominent underground station. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is overseeing the project, stated that this is the first time Namo Bharat trains will operate in an underground section.

Although initial ridership since October 2023 has been limited, with NCRTC reporting around 5 million passengers using the services, officials anticipate increased traffic as the service extends further into Delhi. By June 2024, the service will reach Sarai Kale Khan, and when completed by 2025, the full ₹30,000 crore project will be able to handle 800,000 passengers daily.

The Namo Bharat train, built by French rail giant Alstom, can travel at speeds up to 160 km/h and features a design speed of 180 km/h. With this new section, the operational Namo Bharat Corridor now extends to 55 km, including 11 stations.

PM Modi also inaugurated the first operational section of Delhi Metro’s Phase-IV, which had experienced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2.8 km stretch between Janakpuri West and Krishna Park Extension on the Magenta Line, worth approximately ₹1,200 crore, marks the beginning of the expanded metro line. Initial services on the stretch will operate every 16 minutes, with further extensions expected by 2026.

During his speech, PM Modi highlighted the rapid expansion of India’s metro network, which has grown from just 248 km in 2014 to over 1,000 km under his leadership. He took aim at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government, criticizing its performance in infrastructure and governance. In response, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused Modi of attacking the city’s government rather than presenting a clear vision for its future.

BS