Namo Bharat will operate 20 additional daily trips from Wednesday on the complete Sarai Kale Khan–Modipuram corridor as Delhi-NCR faces deteriorating air quality and GRAP-2 restrictions, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has decided.
The additional services will run across the corridor connecting Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi with Modipuram in Meerut. NCRTC said the move is intended to strengthen public transport options and reduce dependence on private vehicles while air pollution remains in the very poor category in Delhi and other cities along the corridor.
The decision follows the implementation of GRAP-2 measures in the capital after air quality worsened. Under the restrictions, entry limits have been imposed on some categories of vehicles from 1 November as part of efforts to control pollution. The transport response is aimed at giving commuters a more convenient and reliable alternative during a period when road-based travel may face additional restrictions.
NCRTC said the increase in Namo Bharat services would support public transport use across the wider corridor, rather than being limited to Delhi. The corporation said air quality had also reached the very poor category in other urban areas connected by the Namo Bharat route, increasing the need for dependable mass-transit options.
The Namo Bharat stations have been integrated with several other transport systems, including Delhi Metro, Indian Railways, inter-state bus terminals and city bus services. Parking facilities are also available at the stations, according to the report, allowing passengers to combine private vehicle access for part of a journey with the regional rail service.
Delhi Metro is also operating 40 additional trips as part of the measures being taken during the pollution episode. Together, the increased metro and Namo Bharat services are intended to expand passenger capacity and make public transport more accessible while vehicle-related restrictions remain in force.
The additional Namo Bharat trips will begin on Wednesday and operate along the full Sarai Kale Khan–Modipuram corridor. NCRTC’s stated objective is to promote public transport and reduce private-vehicle dependence in response to the continuing deterioration in air quality.
