India’s first rapid rail service: PM Modi flags off Namo Bharat train on Delhi-Meerut route

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially launched the maiden Namo Bharat train, a part of the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), covering a 17-km expanse. Further announcements indicated that this venture is set to expand, linking major hubs in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Future Prospects for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS

Modi emphasized that the entire 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS span is scheduled for completion in approximately eighteen months, and he envisions himself gracing its inauguration.

Recalling the project’s inception, the prime minister quoted, “Four years ago, I laid the foundation stone of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut regional corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat trains have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot… I will be there at your service when this Delhi-Meerut stretch is completed after a year or a year and a half.”

PM Modi unveils Namo Bharat train: A leap forward for India’s regional rapid transit system. Photo courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office.

Namo Bharat Train: Symbolizing ‘New India’

Commending the initiation of this rapid rail service, Modi expressed, “This is a historic moment as India’s first rapid rail service — Namo Bharat train — has been flagged off,” highlighting its role in shaping the future of Indian railways. The prime minister also emphasized the significance of upcoming railway transformations, including the Namo Bharat and Vande Bharat train services, under the banner of the Amrit Bharat initiative.

Reiterating his ambitious vision, Modi mentioned, “I am not in the habit of small dreams and walking slowly… by the end of this decade, Indian trains will be second to none in the world.”

An intriguing highlight of this launch was the fact that the entire crew of the newly inaugurated Namo Bharat train, from drivers to support staff, comprises women. Modi stated, “Namo Bharat is a symbol of the strengthening women power in the country.”

Expansion and Connectivity of the RRTS

Friday witnessed the inauguration of the RRTS’s 17-km section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, which includes five pivotal stations. This entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is slated for operational status by June 2025.

The prime minister emphasized the magnitude of this project, stating, “This 80-km Delhi-Meerut stretch is just the beginning,” hinting at its forthcoming expansion across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan.

Further, eight RRTS corridors have been pinpointed for developmental endeavours within the National Capital Region (NCR), with three prioritized for Phase I execution, which includes the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor, the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar Corridor, and the Delhi-Panipat Corridor.