Namo Bharat Achievement: Largest RRTS Station at Sarai Kale Khan Set to Open Next Month

New Delhi, March 22 (NationPress) The multi-modal transit hub being developed at Sarai Kale Khan in southeast Delhi is anticipated to take shape by next month as the largest station of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat project approaches completion. This progress will facilitate the commencement of trial operations in the upcoming two weeks, according to an official statement on Saturday.

The RRTS will encompass four stations across Delhi, with approximately 3.8 km of the corridor running underground, part of the total 14 km in the national capital. A two-km extension has been suggested for the RRTS from Sarai Kale Khan to Jangpura.

The arrival of Namo Bharat trains at the Sarai Kale Khan station will signify the integration of four transportation modes within the hub, including Indian Railways, Delhi Metro, and the Inter-State Bus service. Public transport buses will also be accessible within the complex.

The RRTS station at Sarai Kale Khan will measure 215 metres in length and 50 metres in width. To ensure smooth connectivity among the four transport modes, a network of pedestrian bridges has been designed to connect the Namo Bharat station with Northern Railway’s Hazrat Nizamuddin station, Metro station, and the Inter-State Bus Terminal.

The 84-km Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor from Delhi to Meerut is being constructed at a cost of Rs 30,274 crore to reduce travel time between Jangpura in Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut to just one hour.

According to studies by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), the Namo Bharat RRTS between Delhi and Meerut is projected to have an estimated daily ridership of eight lakh. It will feature 25 stations, with 68 km of the corridor elevated, 13 km underground, and 3 km at grade. The full operation from Delhi to Modipuram is expected to be completed in 2025.

With the launch of the 13-kilometre stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor from Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar in January, the service now covers a total of 55 km.

As per officials, the fare from New Ashok Nagar station to Meerut South is Rs 150 for the standard coach and Rs 225 for the premium coach. The minimum fare for travel is Rs 20 for the standard coach and Rs 30 for the premium coach.

In contrast to traditional railways or metros, RRTS trains will operate at significantly higher speeds (exceeding 160 km/h) and accommodate larger numbers of passengers, alleviating congestion with trains running every 15 minutes.

This high-speed, dependable, and comfortable train service is poised to streamline travel for millions, reducing commuters' travel time between Delhi and Meerut to less than 60 minutes.

The trains are operated by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), established in July 2013 as a joint venture (JV) of the Governments of India and the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi.

In July 2022, the NCRTC appointed Deutsche Bahn (DB), Germany's national railway company, to manage and maintain the corridor for 12 years, with an option for a 5-year extension.

The NCRTC has branded the service provider as RapidX and the trains as Namo Bharat, noted as India's fastest rapid transit train, operating at a speed of 160 km/h (99 mph).

Bombardier Transportation, a former Canadian railway manufacturing company now owned by Alstom, a global French railway manufacturing firm, will provide 210 coaches consisting of 30 trainsets, each with six coaches. The manufacturing is taking place at the company's facility in Savli, Gujarat.

The inaugural Namo Bharat train, representing India's first RRTS, commenced service on a 17-kilometre priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot following its launch by PM Modi on October 20, 2023. The project’s foundation stone was laid by PM Modi in March 2019.