New Delhi: In an impactful prelude to the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India’s pioneering semi-high speed regional rail service, formerly known as RapidX, has been rebranded as NaMo Bharat. Prime Minister Modi is set to commence the maiden journey of a NaMo Bharat train that will link Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, symbolizing the introduction of the ambitious Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India.
This visionary regional development endeavor is primed to revolutionize intercity transportation with high-speed trains running at 15-minute intervals, a frequency that can be heightened to a mere five minutes as per demand, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
However, the name change did not go unnoticed by political rivals, with Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh, taking a subtle jab at the Prime Minister’s penchant for nomenclature. Ramesh remarked, “After Namo stadium, now Namo trains. There is simply no limit to his self-obsession.” It’s worth noting that a cricket stadium in Ahmedabad bears the Prime Minister’s moniker.
The 17-kilometer priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is scheduled for passenger service commencement on October 21, just one day following the grand inauguration.
Within this priority stretch between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, five stations are strategically located: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot. Safety is paramount, with the presence of CCTV cameras, an emergency door-opening mechanism, and a communication button enabling direct contact with train operators.
While trains on this corridor can attain speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, operational speed will be moderated, as confirmed by officials.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is under development with an outlay exceeding INR 30,000 crore and is poised to connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour, traversing key urban centers including Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar, as highlighted by the PMO.
The entire 82.15-kilometer Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS network is slated for full operational status by June 2025.
