The Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS), a Rs 30,274 crore joint venture between the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government, would be operational by March 2023. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation said that by March 2023, a 17-kilometer portion of the 82.15-kilometer route will be operating.
According to NCRTC authorities, around 8 lakh passengers are expected to commute via Rapid Rail each day. The architectural and design work for the 17-kilometer priority segment between Sahibabad and Duhai, which includes five stations including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai depots, has been completed. The building work has progressed to a more advanced level.
The UP government has allocated Rs 1,326 crore for the project in the current financial year. According to the officials of RRTS project, 24 stations will be built along the entire corridor.
About 68 kilometers of this project falls in the UP region. The priority section of 17 km between Sahibabad to Duhai is expected to be commissioned by 2023 and the entire corridor between Delhi and Meerut by 2025,” the spokesperson said. The places selected for stations include Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Muradnagar Depot, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, Meerut South, Partapur, Rithani, Shatabdi Nagar, Brahmapuri, Meerut Central, Bhainsali, Begumpul, MES Colony, Daurali Metro, Meerut North and Modipuram.
The government plans to connect these stations with airports, railway stations and Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT) as well as Metro stations.
It was earlier planned to open the entire corridor by March 2025 but the construction work has slowed down due to the Covid-19 lockdown. Despite this the authorities are hopeful of completing the project within the deadline.
