Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the remaining stretch of the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor on February 22, marking a major milestone in regional connectivity. The newly operational sections will run from Meerut South to Modipuram and from New Ashok Nagar to Sarai Kale Khan, significantly reducing travel time between Delhi and Meerut.
With the completion of the 82-kilometre corridor, both the Namo Bharat Train and the Meerut Metro will operate along the route. The full stretch from Modipuram in Meerut to Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi will now be covered in approximately 50 minutes.
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Currently, services between Meerut South and New Ashok Nagar cover a 55-kilometre distance, with over 60,000 passengers commuting daily. Officials estimate that once the entire corridor becomes operational, average daily ridership will exceed one lakh passengers.
The journey of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) dates back to 2010, when the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) initiated plans for high-speed rail connectivity. Feasibility studies were conducted for major corridors, including Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat, and Delhi-Alwar.
The NCRTC office in Saket was inaugurated on September 12, 2018, to oversee the project’s implementation. On March 8, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the Rapid Rail project in Ghaziabad. Soil testing began in Meerut on April 12, 2019, and civil construction commenced in Ghaziabad on June 20, 2019. However, progress was temporarily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pillar construction in the Meerut region began on July 1, 2020, and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) later projected completion by June 2025.
Rapid Rail construction in Meerut gained momentum on July 30, 2021, following the diversion of Delhi Road. The first 17-kilometre phase between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on October 20, 2023. The service was later extended to Meerut South on August 18, 2024.
On January 5, 2025, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Corridor was further extended to Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar on the Delhi border from Meerut South (Partapur Tiraha).
Residents of Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram in Meerut have been awaiting the completion of the final stretch. Although the launch date was discussed multiple times earlier, it did not materialise. With the inauguration now scheduled for February 22, preparations are underway at both administrative and security levels.
The completion of the full corridor is expected to transform daily commuting between Delhi and Meerut. Services will operate from morning until night, offering faster, safer, and more efficient travel options.
Officials believe that the fully operational corridor will significantly ease traffic congestion and enhance regional connectivity across the National Capital Region.