Introduction
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut line will soon have a functional Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS), which would improve connectivity in India’s capital city region. The primary goal of this effort is to promote regional connectivity in the area. The system is also expected to promote intermodal connectivity. In a mojor development, the RRTS stations will now have seamless linkages to the Delhi metro stations.
NCR & RRTS
The National Capital Region (NCR) is a multi-state area that includes the National Capital, which exists as its centre. This region, which spans over 35,000 km sq. includes the whole National Capital Territory of Delhi as well as portions of the neighbouring states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. To improve connectivity within the NCR, the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has suggested connecting urban, industrial (SEZs/industrial parks), regional, and sub-regional centres via a fast rail-based Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The goal of this system is to minimise commuters’ reliance on road-based mobility. The NCRPB conducted a study on the Integrated Transportation Plan for the NCR, predicting statistics through 2032, and proposed eight rail-based fast transit corridors to improve the efficiency of the NCR’s transportation system. In addition to the rail system, different arrangements have also been proposed that shall be made for infrastructure, such as road network improvements.
The eight identified RRTS corridors are:
- Delhi – Gurgaon – Rewari – Alwar [DGRA – Project Corridor]
- Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut
- Delhi – Sonipat – Panipat
- Delhi – Faridabad – Ballabhgarh – Palwal
- Delhi – Bahadurgarh – Rohtak
- Delhi – Shahadra – Baraut
- Ghaziabad – Khurja
- Ghaziabad – Hapur
The NCRPB has decided to implement RRTS in the following three corridors on priority:
- Delhi – Gurgaon – Rewari – Alwar;
- Delhi – Sonipat – Panipat; and
- Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut.
The Ghaziabad Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) station has been designed in a manner that shall pave the way for two future routes to Khurja and Hapur. Future RRTS routes to Khurja and Hapur in western Uttar Pradesh would branch out from the main Ghaziabad station, which is being built as part of the 82-kilometer-long Delhi-Meerut RRTS project. When the RRTS project, which would feature high-speed trains on dedicated tracks, was conceptualised in 2006, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the project’s implementing agency, offered eight routes, with three routes being identified as priority corridors. Sufficient infrastructure is being built, including loop lines at the Ghaziabad station, which shall aid in the future branching out of other routes. Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Alwar, Delhi-Panipat, Delhi-Palwal, Delhi-Khurja, Delhi-Rohtak, Delhi-Hapur, and Delhi-Baraut are among the eight initially proposed suggested corridors. The three priority corridors have been designated under Phase 1 of the RRTS project, while the five remaining routes have been determined under the Functional Plan on Transport for National Capital Region -2032.
The Ghaziabad RRTS station will serve as a key interchange point and will have interchangeable facilities with the Metro. Furthermore, it shall serve as an interchange station for additional future routes. The estimated distance between Ghaziabad and Khurja is around 77 kilometres and 34 kilometres between Ghaziabad and Hapur. Ghaziabad station, which is over 27 metres tall and one of the three prioritised corridors, would also have interchangeable facilities with the Metro. It is part of the 82-kilometre Delhi-Meerut corridor, as well as the 17-kilometre priority segment from Sahibabad to Duhai being built in Ghaziabad. Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Muradnagar, Modinagar (South), and Modinagar (North) are among the locations where RRTS stations are being developed. The priority segment had been scheduled to open in March 2023, with the complete 82-kilometre corridor opening in March 2025 at a cost of Rs. 30,274 crore.
Delhi-Meerut RRTS: Key features
- The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor is India’s first RRTS corridor that has been planned to be connected with other means of transport to help ensure smooth and seamless movement of travellers.Â
- Platform screen doors will be installed at all RRTS stations to improve commuter safety. The NCRTC is also negotiating a loan worth 60% of the project’s cost. The remaining 40% will be borne by the central government, as well as the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.Â
- The civil aviation ministry has approved the use of drones for GIS mapping of the corridor for the first time in the country. The remotely piloted aircraft system will be used for data collection, mapping, and implementing the web-based information system platform.
- With a design speed of 180 kmph, the RRTS rolling stock will be the first of its kind in India. These aerodynamic RRTS trains will be lightweight, fully air-conditioned with a stainless steel outer body. For signalling, the European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 of ERTMS shall be used.
- There will be 25kV, 50 Hz AC overhead catenary electrification. According to the NCRTC, solar energy shall fulfil more than seventy per cent of the total energy requirement of the RRTS corridor, conserving fuel and minimising the air pollution while also gaining carbon credit all through the corridor’s operation.
 Construction Timeline & Background
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) planned three Rapid Rail Transit stretches in 2017 to connect the far-flung edges of the National Capital Region with Delhi via a semi-high-speed rail corridor – Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat, and Delhi-Alwar. The Delhi-Meerut RRTS would run at a speed of 160 kmph through Ghaziabad. Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the project in March 2019, and the construction is presently underway in a speedy manner. During the Union Budget 2023-24, the government budgeted Rs 3,596 crore to the Delhi-Meerut RRTS route. The project is being carried out by the National Capital Area Transport Corporation (NCRTC). The full line is expected to be finished by March 2025. However, a 17-kilometre priority segment linking Sahibabad and Duhai with the ongoing works is expected to be completed by June 2023.
According to the NCTRC, the stretch towards Meerut is scheduled and expected to be opened once the priority segment in Ghaziabad opens in June 2023. The installation of the RRTS project’s last 25-kilometre viaduct between Duhai and Meerut (South) station has been completed, as per the officials. This completes the 42-kilometre RRTS stretch from Sahibabad to Meerut (South). The Duhai-Meerut (South) segment has been planned to include four stations in Ghaziabad: Muradnagar, Modinagar (North), and Modinagar (South), as well as Meerut (North) and Meerut (South).
The 82-kilometre rail route that shall connect the national capital of Delhi with Meerut via Ghaziabad. The corridor will include 25 stations (including connections to other transit systems) with two depots at Duhai and Modipuram. The NCRTC successfully conducted dynamic test runs of the regional rapid transit system for the 17-kilometre priority stretch of the route between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot in January this year. Apart from a few minor and finishing activities, the telecom and signalling development work is currently underway. The project is being constructed using cutting-edge technology and shall serve the commuters in the NCR with contemporary, air-conditioned, rapid and dependable transportation option.
The project will cost Rs 30,274 crores to complete. The Central and the state governments of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh have made contributions and provided funds to the Delhi Meerut RRTS project. The Government of India has provided 20% of the overall funding, with Delhi and Uttar Pradesh contributing 3.22% and 16.78%, respectively. In addition, the project is likely to receive nearly 1 billion USD in multilateral funding from Asian Development Bank (ADB), 500 million USD from New Development Bank (NDB), and 500 million USD from Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).
Timeline
- May 2017:Â The project’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) was approved by the Uttar Pradesh Government.
- Feb 2019:Â The project approved by the centre with a budget of Rs 30,274 crores.
- Mar 2019:Â PM Narendra Modi laid the groundwork and foundation stone for the project.
- Mar 2022:Â Tunnelling for the underground segment of the route in Meerut begins.
- Jan 2023:Â The dynamic test runs along the corridor carried out.
Route & Stations
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor will be 82 kilometres long, featuring 17 kilometres of elevated track and 65 kilometres of ground-level track. The corridor will include twenty-four stations, sixteen of which will be elevated and eight will be underground. The RRTS corridor will run from Delhi’s Sarai Kale Khan to Meerut’s Modipuram. The trip time between the two cities is planned to be greatly reduced, with a travel time of roughly one hour.
All twenty-four stations of the RRTS corridor have been planned to be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities such as lifts, escalators, and sophisticated ticketing systems. Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, Meerut South, Mohiuddinpur, Partapur, Rithani, Shatabdi Nagar, Brahampuri, and Meerut North would be among the 16 elevated stations on the corridor. Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Meerut Central, Bhaisali, Begumpul, and MES Colony shall be the eight underground stations along the corridor.
Major Advantages
The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor is projected to help the residents of the National Capital Region in a variety of ways. The RRTS corridor will reduce travel time and road congestion between Delhi and Meerut by providing a rapid, safe, and comfortable option for travel. The RRTS corridor is also projected to encourage sustainable development by lowering carbon emissions and increasing public transport use. The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Corridor is slated to open in three stages. The first phase, between Sahibabad and Duhai, is scheduled to open in June 2023. The second phase, connecting Sahibabad and Shatabdi Nagar, is scheduled to open in 2025. The third and final section, connecting Sahibabad and Modipuram, is scheduled to open in 2026.
RAPIDX
According to recent updates from the National Capital Regional Transportation Corporation (NCRTC), the rapid rail service between Delhi and Meerut will now be known as RapidX. The 82-kilometre-long Rapid Rail Transit Services (RRTS) line is projected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut. By 2025, the NCRTC hopes to open the full Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor to the public. The 17-kilometre priority route between Sahibabad and Duhai is expected to open for public use by the end of June this year.
Regarding the name change to RapidX, the NCRTC states that the brand name RapidX is easy to read and pronounce. In addition to speed and progress, the letter X in the name signifies next-generation technology and modern mobility solution. According to NCRTC authorities, the leaf symbol in the transport system’s sign is the highlight of the brand’s dedication to decarbonisation, not only through decongesting NCR and lowering the number of vehicles on the road, but also by using green energy.
Project & Specification Details
The goal of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS (RAPIDX) is to minimise commuter reliance on road-based transit and movement while improving regional connectivity within the National Capital Region. The RRTS system will mostly operate underground within Delhi, connect to the Delhi Metro Rail system, and give locals with a speedier alternative option to reach their destination (for example, nonstop service between Sarai Kale Khan and Kashmere Gate on the Delhi-Panipat line). In other parts of the world, equivalent systems include London’s Crossrail, Paris’ RER, and Munich’s S-Bahn.
- Operational : 0 Km
- Under Construction : 82.15 Km
- Approved: 209 Km
- Proposed: 700 Km (Approx)
- Design Speed: 180 Kmph
- Operational Speed: 160 Kmph
- Average Speed: 100 Kmph
- Track Gauge: Standard Gauge (1435mm)
- Rolling Stock: Aerodynamic (Stainless Steel/Aluminium Body)
- Signalling: European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 of ERTMS
- Traction: 1×25 KV AC Overhead Catenary (OHE)
- Seating Arrangement: Transverse
- Classes: Economy & Business (1 coach per train)
RAPIDX Phase 1 Lines (349 Kms)
Task group formed by the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) has prioritised the development of three routes as early bird lines:
Line-1: Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut RRTS
- Length: 82.15 km
- Type: Elevated & Underground
- Depot: Duhai EPE and Modipuram
- Number of Stations: Twenty-Two (22)
- Stations: Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai (EPE), Murad Nagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, Meerut South, Partapur, Rithani, Shatabdi Nagar, Brahmapuri, Meerut Central, Bhaisali, Begum Pul, MES Colony, Daurli, Meerut North and Modipuram
Line-2: Delhi – Gurgaon – SNB – Alwar RRTS
- Length: 199 km
- Main-line: Delhi – SNB – Alwar (164 km)
- Spur Line: SNB – Sotanala (35 km)
- Type: Elevated & Underground
- Depot: Dharuhera, Alwar
- Number of Stations: Twenty-Two
- Stations (Main-Line): Sarai Kale Khan, Jor Bagh (INA), Munirka, Aerocity, Udyog Vihar, Gurgaon Sector 17, Rajiv Chowk, Kherki Daula, Manesar, Panchgaon, Bilaspur Chowk, Dharuhera Depot, MBIR, Rewari, Bawal, Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behrod (SNB), Khairthal, Alwar (Total 18).
Stations (Spur Line): Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, Behror, Sotanala (Total 04).
Line-3: Delhi – Sonipat – Panipat RRTS (103 km)
- Length: 103 km
- Type: Elevated & Underground
- Depots: Murthal & Panipat
- Number of Stations: Sixteen
- Stations: Sarai Kale Khan, Indraprastha, Kashmere Gate, Burari Crossing, Mukarba Chowk, Alipur, Kundli, KMP Interchange, RGEU, Murthal, Barhi, Gannaur, Samalkha, Panipat South, Panipat North, Panipat Depot
Future Phase 2 Lines
- Delhi – Faridabad – Ballabhgarh – Palwal (60 km)
- Ghaziabad – Bulandshahar – Khurja (83 km)
- Delhi – Bahadurgarh – Rohtak (70 km; Future extension planned to Hisar)
- Ghaziabad – Hapur (57 km)
- Delhi – Shahadra – Baghpat – Baraut (56 km)
Latest Update
RapidX, India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), would run trains between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut. According to the latest information, train services would be available every five to ten minutes. According to reports, the 17-kilometre priority stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot is nearly complete, and operations are expected to commence in June.
According to the report, this air-conditioned six-coach train will have a capacity of 450 passengers. The train will initially carry six coaches, but the stations have been constructed to handle nine if necessary. One coach on this six-coach train will be an elegant and premium bogie, and the other will be for female passengers. The train will provide a dedicated train attendant in the premium coach to help travellers by assisting them with on-board facilities and ensuring their safe and secure travel. The deluxe coach shall feature a number of modern conveniences, such as comfy cushioned reclining seats, mobile and laptop charging connections, luggage racks, and magazine holders, among others.
The entire route is expected to open to the public in 2025, but the 17-kilometre priority portion from Sahibabad to Duhai will be operating soon. Commuters will be able to complete their journey in just 12 minutes with the launch of the priority segment, and travel time will be cut from three hours to 50 minutes once the full corridor is completed. According to reports, this corridor is estimated to have 8 lakh daily travellers. Additionally, it is expected to minimise carbon dioxide emissions by 2,50,000 tonnes per year.
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Earlier this month, officials announced that the stations of India’s first regional train – RAPIDX – will be painted in the blue and beige colour spectrum of the peacock feather. The colours of the station’s outdoor facade have been an inspiration by the hues of peacock feathers, according to an official statement. The facade structure is painted in two different tones of blue and beige. The external roofs of its stations are curved on both sides to represent the train’s speed, which is one of its key attributes.
