Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Trains within the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor. This highly anticipated 17-kilometer priority section forms part of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor.

During this occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged with both school children and the crew aboard the RapidX train, named 'NaMo Bharat,' which connects Sahibabad to the Duhai Depot.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) introduced the 'RAPIDX' nomenclature for RRTS trains in April. The NCRTC is spearheading the implementation of India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service initiative. RRTS stands as a pioneering rail-based semi-high-speed transit system, engineered for high-frequency commuter travel, boasting an impressive design speed of 180 kilometers per hour.

In an announcement on the social media platform X, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri revealed that the RRTS trains will be known as 'Namo Bharat.' This project carries wide-ranging implications for India's evolving transportation landscape and the starting of a new era in the nation's rail connectivity.

"The priority corridor of the RRTS project related to the aspirations of crores of people is ready to get on track. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will dedicate it to the nation on October 20. The Regional Rapid Transit System of the country will be known as 'Namo Bharat'," the minister said.

In another post, Puri said, "Indigenously manufactured with a designed speed potential of 180 kmph and operational speed potential of 160 kmph, the fully air-conditioned, safe, and comfortable train will take less than an hour to cover 82 km between Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut."

"Inauguration of the country's first Regional Rapid Train #NamoBharat between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20 October 2023, will mark the beginning of a new era of state-of-the-art ultra-modern urban commute in the country," the Union minister said on X.

The RapidX train is set to ply the RRTS corridor that connects Delhi and Meerut, featuring a priority section encompassing five key stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot. Notably, each RapidX train comprises six coaches, including a dedicated premium coach to enhance the passenger experience. These trains will have six coaches, including a special coach. There will be one coach just for women. The seats are numbered, and there are reserved seats for women, seniors, and people with special needs.

Inside each train, there will be 407 seats arranged in a 2x2 layout, and about 1,061 passengers can stand. Each seat will have a place to charge your devices, and there will be free Wi-Fi on board. This means passengers can stay connected and have a more comfortable journey. This new train service brings together comfort and modern features for travelers.

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor project costs over Rs 30,000 crore. Its primary aim is to connect Delhi to Meerut in under an hour, passing through the key urban areas of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar. This ambitious project encompasses eight corridors in total, with three currently under construction in Phase I: the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, the 164-km Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar, and the 103-km Delhi-Panipat corridors. Future corridors will include Delhi – Faridabad – Ballabgarh – Palwal, Ghaziabad – Khurja, Delhi – Bahadurgarh – Rohtak, Ghaziabad-Hapur, and Delhi-Shahadra-Baraut.

Compared to metro systems Rapid rail is faster, enabling commuters to cover relatively longer distances across the NCR in a shorter time. RRTS trains travel shorter distances but do so at higher frequencies and offer more comfort than typical railway coaches. It is inspired by successful systems like the RER in Paris, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria, and the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, providing commuters with a more efficient and comfortable travel option.

Image source: Times of India