Delhi’s Rapid Rail Section to Open on Jan 5, Connecting Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar
On January 5, 2025, the long-awaited Delhi section of India’s first semi-high-speed rapid rail corridor will be officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The event marks a significant step in transforming urban transportation in the National Capital Region (NCR). This new section will connect Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar, a stretch of 13 kilometres, further extending the operational length of the rapid rail corridor to 55 kilometres.
Initially scheduled for December 29, the inauguration had been delayed due to national mourning following the passing of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The new section will provide crucial connectivity to the capital and the surrounding areas, with trains running from Sahibabad in Ghaziabad to New Ashok Nagar. The Delhi section will integrate with key metro lines, creating a seamless transportation network for commuters. A highlight of the new section is its link to Anand Vihar, which will become one of the busiest transit hubs in the NCR. Anand Vihar already serves as a major interchange for metro passengers, Indian Railways, and buses, and with the addition of the rapid rail, its connectivity will be significantly enhanced. The Anand Vihar metro station connects with the Blue Line (Vaishali/Ghaziabad) and Pink Line, while New Ashok Nagar will provide a direct connection to the Noida section of the Blue Line. The rapid rail station at Anand Vihar will be accessible via lifts and escalators from the metro complex.
The rapid rail will offer a much-needed alternative to the congested roads and other forms of public transport, providing commuters with a fast and efficient mode of travel. As part of its design, the corridor includes a 6-kilometre underground section starting at Vaishali station, adding to the appeal of this new transport infrastructure. Anand Vihar will be the only underground station in this section, while other underground stations are planned for the Meerut stretch. The inauguration of this Delhi section marks the first time rapid rail trains will enter the capital since the October 2023 launch of the initial phase from Sahibabad to Duhai. The Delhi-Meerut corridor aims to alleviate traffic pressure in the NCR and offer a sustainable and rapid mode of transport for daily commuters. The opening of this section is particularly significant as it links the capital with Meerut South, one of the key areas in the project.
Work on the remaining sections of the corridor is ongoing. The full 82-kilometre stretch between Delhi and Meerut is expected to be operational by June 2025, with the final station in Delhi, Sarai Kale Khan, soon to be completed. In the meantime, rapid rail trains are already operating between Sahibabad and Meerut South, providing efficient service to thousands of passengers each day. The Delhi-Meerut rapid rail corridor is set to revolutionise urban transport, bridging the gap between satellite cities and the national capital, easing the daily commute for lakhs of people, and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future for urban mobility in India.
