New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and the Meerut Metro in Meerut, marking a major milestone in India’s urban transport network.
The launch is the first time in the country that both a rapid rail and a metro service have been rolled out from a single platform on the same day.
Completion of India’s First Rapid Rail Corridor
The inauguration marked the completion of the 82-km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System corridor. Modi flagged off a 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, along with a 21-km section between Meerut South and Modipuram. He also inaugurated the metro section from Meerut South to Modipuram from Shatabdi Nagar station.
With the entire corridor now operational, commuters can travel between Delhi and Meerut in less than an hour. Passenger services are set to begin from 6 pm.
Designed for a top speed of 180 kmph and an operational speed of up to 160 kmph, the Namo Bharat trains are expected to cut travel time sharply. The corridor connects key urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut, strengthening regional connectivity across Delhi-NCR.
Metro and Rapid Rail on Shared Tracks
The 23-km Meerut Metro will run alongside the RRTS on several stretches. It has a maximum operational speed of around 120 kmph and will cover the full route in about 30 minutes. This is the first time in India that both a metro and a rapid rail service will operate on the same tracks built for a regional rapid transit system.
The corridor has 13 stations, including Meerut South, Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram, where interchange facilities are available. Officials said the high-speed system will ease congestion, cut pollution, and boost economic activity across the region.
