Lucknow: Looks like good news is finally coming for Uttar Pradesh. The state will become the first state in India to have a rapid rail system. It will receive the rail system during the first implementation of RRTS.
As per sources, work on country’s first rapid rail is also on track. The rapid rail first corridor network will connect Delhi and Meerut. The central government is likely to give its nod, ahead of 2019 election.
In a meeting chaired by UP Chief Secretary in Lucknow, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) team presented the plan. Experts from UP’s Metro Rail Corporation as well as other officers were also part of the meeting.
Work on constructing the first Delhi-Meerut corridor has begun. Currently, road widening work has started from Duhai to Sahibabad in Ghaziabad is currently underway. Tender invitation work is put on fast track to speed up work.
Central government too is taking cognisance of projects that can be initiated in couple of months. Rapid Raid network is one such project and preparations are underway.
A rapid rail network will help in easing out traffic problems, save time and money. Most importantly, it will curtail the level of air and noise pollution owing to traffic jams.
As per recent data around 46 million people live in 58 thousand square kilometres of NCR. And 39 per cent of the NCR population lives in Delhi. A rapid rail network will be a commuter friendly transport and is need of the hour. This network will be linked to metro stations, major airports and ISBT.
As part of the plan -Kashmiri Gate, Sarai Kale Kha, Anand Vihar, Airport, IFFCO Chowk, Mohan Nagar are earmarked as bigger interchange points.
In first phase three corridors are planned with Meerut-Ghaziabad-Delhi being the first corridor. In the second lap Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and Alwar will be covered. In the third corridor Delhi, Panipat and Sonipat will be connected.
For the second phase, the officials plan to have five corridors. These include:
- The first corridor will cover Delhi, Faridabad and Palwal
- The second corridor will touch Ghaziabad and Khurja
- In third, Delhi-Ballabhgarh-Rohtak
- In fourth Ghaziabad-Hapur
- Fifth corridor Delhi, Shahdara and Barot to be covered
NCRTC is a joint venture between government of India and state government of four states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The body is formed to carry out design, construction, operation and maintenance work rail based Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the National Capital Region.
Vinay Kumar Singh is heads the NCRTC and was earlier working with Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) – a railway PSU involved in the study of high speed rail corridors.
Singh holds excellent track record professionally. He was instrumental in starting construction of Delhi Metro on ground. Singh was also the first chief executive officer of the High Speed Rail Corporation of India. He is now the first Managing Director of NCRTC.
