The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) recently revealed that the 25km segment connecting Duhai to Meerut (South) will become the second phase of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project to commence passenger operations. Anticipated to be operational within the next six months, this development marks a significant milestone in the larger RRTS project, which aims to link Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. The entire 82km corridor is projected to be fully operational by March 2025, with an estimated daily ridership of 800,000 passengers.
The NCRTC, responsible for the 82km-long RRTS project’s development, disclosed that the 25km stretch from Duhai in Ghaziabad to Meerut (South) is poised to be the next section to open for passenger services. This stretch includes stations at Muradnagar, Modinagar (South), and Modinagar (North) in Ghaziabad, while the Meerut (South) station falls under the jurisdiction of Meerut district.
The RRTS project, with a budget of ₹30,274 crore, aims to connect the three cities of Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut and is projected to accommodate approximately 800,000 daily passengers once the full 82km corridor is operational. Among the 25 stations along the RRTS line, 22 are under the jurisdiction of the state of Uttar Pradesh, located in Ghaziabad and Meerut.
Insiders at NCRTC have suggested that the 25km section from Duhai to Meerut (South) is expected to be completed in the next six months, including conducting trial runs. There is speculation that the 17km priority section and the 25km stretch to Meerut may be inaugurated simultaneously ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The viaduct for the 25km stretch has already been completed, with track laying work for over half the stretch already finished, as confirmed by NCRTC officials.
Vinay Kumar Singh, the Managing Director of NCRTC, conducted an inspection of the 25km stretch’s progress, expressing that once the segment is ready, RapidX trains will operate from the Duhai Depot in Ghaziabad. These trains will continue operating until another depot in Modipuram, Meerut, is finalized. Additionally, there is a proposed depot at Jungpura in Delhi, intended solely as a stabling yard for trains, rather than a maintenance depot. The construction of stations along the 25km stretch is also progressing at a swift pace, according to Puneet Vats, Chief Public Relations Officer of NCRTC.
Officials have outlined that after completing the 25km stretch, the focus will shift to the Delhi stretch, followed by the final phase in Meerut, where provisions exist for a local metro module to be incorporated into the project.
NCRTC has indicated that approximately 70km of the project will be elevated, with the remaining portion being underground in the Delhi-Ghaziabad and Meerut sections.
Also read: Faster, Greener, Closer: Delhi-Meerut RRTS Set to Redefine Regional Travel