Namo Bharat trains zip across 82-km Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor in trial run
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has completed a successful timetable trial run of Namo Bharat trains across the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. During the trial run, the trains covered the distance from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram in under an hour.
According to NCRTC, the trains maintained the maximum operational speed of 160 kmph and stopped at every station. Officials said the trial adhered to the planned schedule and demonstrated system readiness for full-scale operations.
It said all systems, including the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 3 Hybrid signalling deployed over an LTE backbone, and Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at all stations, functioned without any issues. 'This marks an operational milestone for India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS),' an NCRTC spokesperson said. 'With this successful trial, the corridor is moving closer to full commissioning.'
The 23-km Meerut Metro section, which includes 13 stations, is being built on the same infrastructure as Namo Bharat trains. During the trial run, Meerut Metro trains also operated on the same tracks. Officials said this is the first instance in the country where a local metro is operating on the same infrastructure as a regional rapid system. The section includes 18 km of elevated and 5 km of underground alignments.
At present, 55 km of the RRTS corridor — with 11 operational stations — is open to the public. Trial runs and final civil and systems works are progressing on the remaining 4.5 km stretch in Delhi (between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar), and the final 23 km in Meerut (between Meerut South and Modipuram).
The Namo Bharat corridor, developed at a cost of over Rs 30,000 crore, is the first of several RRTS lines planned to connect parts of the National Capital Region. Once fully operational, the system is expected to reduce travel time and ease congestion between Delhi and nearby urban centres.
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Indian Express
4 hours ago
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RRTS boosts land prices in Meerut, Ghaziabad; 30% to 67% growth witnessed since October 2023
Land prices and housing demand have increased along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut stretch of the Namo Bharat corridor, with data from developers and consultants showing a 30% to 67% rise in property value since it began operations in October 2023. The Namo Bharat corridor, built at a cost of ₹30,274 crore, connects Delhi to Meerut through Ghaziabad. It is the first of several Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) lines planned across the National Capital Region (NCR). The 82-km line is currently operational over a 55-km section. 'When the Namo Bharat project was conceptualised, one of the aims was to enable polycentric development in the NCR… We are also harnessing the potential of Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) in the region to foster vibrant, liveable communities,' Shalabh Goel, managing director of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), said. The city that seems to have benefited the most is Meerut, where land rates have reportedly increased from ₹8,000-12,000 per square yard to ₹12,000-20,000. Properties within two kilometres of Namo Bharat stations have seen a 30% to 50% increase in value in the last two years, according to market estimates. Industry representatives say the rise in demand is being driven by improved access to Delhi and changes in commuter behaviour. The Meerut Development Authority has earmarked 3,273 hectares for TOD in its 2031 master plan. Of this, 2,442 hectares have already been delineated into TOD zones and special development areas. These areas will be served by both the RRTS and the local Meerut Metro. Developers said there has been growing interest in plotted housing, gated societies, and mid-rise apartments in parts of Meerut and Ghaziabad. 'Property prices in areas along the RRTS route have appreciated by 35-40%, reflecting a structural shift driven by infrastructure-led demand… Meerut is fast positioning itself as a credible alternative to legacy NCR markets,' Pritam Mishra, senior vice president at Paras Buildtech, said. 'This is not a cyclical upswing but a deep, infrastructure-driven revaluation of the market,' he added. Real estate firms said that residential development is being accompanied by commercial activity, with integrated townships, healthcare facilities and educational centres being planned within walking distance of transit nodes. According to Santosh Agarwal, executive director of Alpha Corp, a consultancy, 'The combination of affordable land, world-class infrastructure, and increasing demand for premium, sustainable developments is positioning Ghaziabad and Meerut as prime locations for commercial enterprises, tech startups, and skilled professionals.' Samir Jasuja, Founder and CEO of PropEquity, which conducts research in the field, said, 'The Delhi-Meerut RRTS will be a game-changer in the way people live and commute in Delhi-NCR. Its impact on the property prices in Ghaziabad is evident with the launch price of homes more than doubling in the last five years. In fact, branded developers have either forayed into or are scouting for land along or in the vicinity of this corridor. Bengaluru-based Prestige Group recently launched its project in Ghaziabad. At a time when the housing market across top markets is coming down from its peak, new launches and sales in Ghaziabad have lifted the Delhi-NCR housing market in Q2 2025.' Devansh Mittal is a trainee correspondent with The Indian Express. He studied political science at Ashoka University. He can be reached at ... Read More
Indian Express
5 hours ago
- Indian Express
Namo Bharat trains zip across 82-km Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor in trial run
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has completed a successful timetable trial run of Namo Bharat trains across the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. During the trial run, the trains covered the distance from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram in under an hour. According to NCRTC, the trains maintained the maximum operational speed of 160 kmph and stopped at every station. Officials said the trial adhered to the planned schedule and demonstrated system readiness for full-scale operations. It said all systems, including the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 3 Hybrid signalling deployed over an LTE backbone, and Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at all stations, functioned without any issues. 'This marks an operational milestone for India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS),' an NCRTC spokesperson said. 'With this successful trial, the corridor is moving closer to full commissioning.' The 23-km Meerut Metro section, which includes 13 stations, is being built on the same infrastructure as Namo Bharat trains. During the trial run, Meerut Metro trains also operated on the same tracks. Officials said this is the first instance in the country where a local metro is operating on the same infrastructure as a regional rapid system. The section includes 18 km of elevated and 5 km of underground alignments. At present, 55 km of the RRTS corridor — with 11 operational stations — is open to the public. Trial runs and final civil and systems works are progressing on the remaining 4.5 km stretch in Delhi (between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar), and the final 23 km in Meerut (between Meerut South and Modipuram). The Namo Bharat corridor, developed at a cost of over Rs 30,000 crore, is the first of several RRTS lines planned to connect parts of the National Capital Region. Once fully operational, the system is expected to reduce travel time and ease congestion between Delhi and nearby urban centres.
News18
9 hours ago
- News18
Delhi-Meerut RRTS Completes 82-Km Trial: Soon, Sarai Kale Khan To Modipuram In Less Than 1 Hour
Last Updated: During the trial, Namo Bharat trains ran seamlessly at the maximum operational speed of 160 kmph across the entire 82-km stretch, NCRTC said The entire 82-km section of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) will soon be connected with trains as a successful trial on the route has been completed, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation announced on Sunday. Currently, trains are operational on a 55-km section, covering 11 stations between New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and Meerut South in Meerut. The full-length timetable trial run of Namo Bharat trains was held between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram. The journey took less than 60 minutes. This marks a significant operational milestone in the implementation of India's first Namo Bharat corridor, connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. During the trial, Namo Bharat trains ran seamlessly at the maximum operational speed of 160 kmph across the entire 82-km stretch, the NCRTC said. 'The trains made stops at every station from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram and covered the entire distance in less than one hour, adhering to the planned schedule targeted by NCRTC," the official statement read. The advanced ETCS Level 3 Hybrid signalling system over LTE backbone deployed on the corridor, a global first, performed flawlessly, along with the Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) installed at every station. This successful run underscores system readiness and represents a firm step forward towards full-scale operations, the NCRTC added. 'Trial runs, along with final finishing works, are progressing rapidly on the remaining sections i.e., 4.5 km between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and about 23 km between Meerut South and Modipuram in Meerut. This milestone signifies a crucial advancement toward the full commissioning of the entire corridor," the statement added. To ease travel within Meerut City, the trial runs of the Meerut Metro are also underway on the stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram Depot. 'This is the first time in the country that local metro services will be provided on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat trains," the NCRTC added. The 23-km Meerut Metro stretch, comprising 13 stations, includes 18 km of elevated and 5 km of underground sections. Meerut Metro trains were also running simultaneously with Namo Bharat trains during the trials and systems performed perfectly, they said. The first 17-km stretch of the RRTS was made operational in October 2023. Over time, new stations were added to the route. First Published: June 22, 2025, 19:38 IST
