India’s first high-speed regional rail system is nearing the final stretch. The Namo Bharat corridor, connecting Delhi and Meerut, is expected to be fully operational by the end of June 2025.
Once completed, it will drastically reduce the travel time between Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut’s Modipuram to just 45 minutes. The 82-kilometre-long Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), managed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), is designed to modernise regional transit and ease congestion across the National Capital Region. So far, 55 kilometres of the corridor—featuring 11 stations—have already been commissioned and are currently in operation. The remaining 27-kilometre segment is in its final construction phase, with trial runs underway. The high-speed corridor is being built with the aim of offering a faster, safer, and more efficient alternative to road-based travel between the capital and one of Uttar Pradesh’s busiest cities. According to NCRTC, the project is not only expected to cut travel time but also contribute significantly to reducing vehicular emissions and improving air quality in the region.
Trial runs are ongoing on two key segments—Sarai Kale Khan to New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and Meerut South to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. The nearly complete Sarai Kale Khan terminal boasts modern infrastructure including 12 escalators, 4 lifts, 5 entry and exit points, and platform screen doors for improved passenger safety. In Meerut, three new stations are being readied—Shatabdi Nagar (elevated), Begumpul (underground and located in a high-footfall commercial area), and Modipuram, the terminal point situated near a major highway. In a national first, the upcoming Meerut Metro will operate on shared track infrastructure with the RRTS. The metro line spans 23 kilometres and includes 13 stations, three of which are underground—marking a significant milestone in India’s urban transit integration. Since its partial rollout in October 2023, the Namo Bharat corridor has already logged over one crore passenger journeys. The project’s affordability, with discounted fare options and last-mile partnerships, has positioned it as a viable mass transit solution for daily commuters.
With the final launch approaching, the Namo Bharat corridor is poised to set a new benchmark in high-speed regional transport and is being closely watched as a model for similar corridors across other metropolitan regions in the country.
