NaMo Bharat trains to run 32 extra trips on Bhai Dooj, November 11
Synopsis
With Bhai Dooj falling on a working Wednesday this year, Delhi-NCR roads are bracing for a twin-load of commuters and festive travellers. NCRTC's decision to add 32 NaMo Bharat trips — cutting headways to under 10 minutes on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor — is a rare instance of rapid transit being deployed as a real-time traffic-management tool during a festival.
Key Takeaways
NCRTC will run 32 additional NaMo Bharat trips on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor on 11 November for Bhai Dooj .
Train frequency will drop to intervals of less than 10 minutes during the festive period.
The 32 extra trips are on top of 20 additional trips already being operated daily on the corridor.
Bhai Dooj falls on a working Wednesday, raising concerns about compounded road congestion across Delhi-NCR .
The move is intended to ease both festive travel and routine commuter pressure amid rising pollution levels.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has announced 32 additional train trips on the Delhi-Meerut NaMo Bharat corridor on 11 November 2026 to ease travel demand during Bhai Dooj, as the festival coincides with a working Wednesday and is expected to trigger a sharp rise in road congestion across Delhi-NCR. The move is aimed at reducing waiting times at Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) stations to under 10 minutes.
Key Arrangements for Bhai Dooj
According to the NCRTC statement, the 32 extra trips are over and above the 20 additional trips already being operated daily on the corridor to promote rail travel and ease highway congestion between Delhi and Meerut. With the combined additions in place, train frequency on the NaMo Bharat line will drop to intervals of less than 10 minutes, providing near-metro-level headways on a regional rapid transit route.
Why the Rush Is Expected
Bhai Dooj, which celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, draws large numbers of families across Delhi-NCR to visit siblings and relatives. Because 11 November falls on a weekday this year, daily commuters heading to work will share the roads and transit network with festive travellers, compounding pressure on already-strained arterial highways. Rising pollution levels in the region have further underscored the need to shift trips from private vehicles to public transit.
Broader Impact on Commuters
The augmented service is expected to benefit two distinct groups: those travelling to meet family for Bhai Dooj, and regular office and business commuters using the corridor. The NCRTC has positioned the expansion as part of a wider effort to make the NaMo Bharat train a more reliable and sustainable alternative to highway travel in the National Capital Region. Officials noted that reduced waiting times are likely to encourage a greater shift away from private vehicles during the peak festive window.
About the NaMo Bharat Corridor
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, operated under the NaMo Bharat brand, is India's first high-speed regional rail project, connecting Sahibabad and Meerut South at speeds of up to 160 km/h. The corridor is designed to cut travel time between the two cities to under an hour, while also serving as a pollution-mitigation tool for one of India's most congested urban regions. The Bhai Dooj additions mark one of the first major festive frequency enhancements since the corridor entered full commercial operations.
With the festive surge imminent, the NCRTC has urged commuters to plan their journeys using NaMo Bharat to avoid road delays.
Point of View
But it signals a shift in how NCRTC is positioning the NaMo Bharat corridor — less as a prestige infrastructure project and more as a live traffic-management instrument. The real test is whether festive-day capacity boosts translate into sustained ridership habits that justify further frequency investments. With pollution emergencies becoming an annual Delhi-NCR reality, the pressure on the corridor to absorb private-vehicle trips year-round — not just on festival days — is only going to grow.
NationPress
9 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many extra NaMo Bharat trips will run on Bhai Dooj?
NCRTC will operate 32 additional NaMo Bharat trips on the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor on 11 November for Bhai Dooj. These are over and above the 20 extra trips already running daily on the corridor.
When is Bhai Dooj 2026 and why does it affect Delhi traffic?
Bhai Dooj falls on 11 November , which is a working Wednesday this year. The combination of regular office commuters and festive travellers visiting siblings and relatives is expected to significantly worsen road congestion across Delhi-NCR.
What will the train frequency be on NaMo Bharat during Bhai Dooj?
With the additional trips in place, NaMo Bharat trains will be available at intervals of less than 10 minutes at RRTS stations along the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
What is the NaMo Bharat RRTS corridor?
The NaMo Bharat corridor is India's first high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System, connecting Delhi and Meerut at speeds of up to 160 km/h and operated by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). It is designed to cut travel time between the two cities to under an hour.
Why is NCRTC running additional trains during festivals?
NCRTC is adding trains to ease traffic congestion on Delhi-NCR highways and to encourage a shift from private vehicles to public transit, especially during festive periods when road demand spikes. Rising pollution levels in the region have made this push more urgent.
