New Delhi (India) February 22:Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the remaining stretches of the 82-km Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and the 23-km Meerut Metro, the fastest metro in India, in the Delhi-NCR region. Services will begin at 6 pm after the inauguration.
PM Modi, accompanied by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and officials of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), took a metro ride from Shatabdi Nagar to Meerut South. 

Powers Twin Cities Dream

Mr. Modi said the full 82 km rail corridor of the RRTS project represents a snapshot of what connectivity will look like in a developed India that relies on Metro rail to provide for intra-city transport and on the Namo Bharat trains to facilitate the “twin cities” vision. 

“This integration allows commuters to travel within the city or go directly to Delhi, thus ending the compulsion for many workers and students to live in rented houses in Delhi. A unique feature of the project is the integration of Indian Railways, Metro, and bus stands at Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, and Meerut,” Modi said.

Smart Features for Easy Travel

Meerut Metro, which runs concurrently with RRTS on various stretches, is India’s fastest metro capable of running at a maximum speed of about 120 kmph. It will cover the entire route in roughly 30 minutes.
Both Namo Bharat train and metro will run on the same tracks built for the RRTS for the first time in India. The Delhi–Meerut RRTS features smart ticketing vending machines, as well as QR code-based tickets, allowing for fast and seamless cashless travel. Six platforms have been laid with infrastructure for growth, including links with the proposed Delhi–Alwar and Delhi–Karnal rapid rail corridors. 

Future-Ready Infrastructure

The Prime Minister also inaugurated a 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, a 21-km stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram, and a metro segment from Meerut South to Modipuram from Shatabdi Nagar station. The whole trip from Delhi to Meerut will be just under an hour.