Delhi-Meerut rapid rail priority for government: CM Yogi

MEERUT/LUCKNOW: In a joint press conference addressed by Union minister for urban development Venkaiah Naidu and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, both leaders stressed on the importance of several infrastructure projects in the state including the Delhi-Meerut rapid rail project. The project is said to be the top priority for the government as a reduction in travel time from Delhi to Meerut could fuel further economic growth in the region.The much-awaited 92-kilometre corridor, which was first proposed more than 10 years ago, is to be built by National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
As Naidu handed over the release order of Rs 1,263 crore to the UP CM for different projects in the state in the state capital on Friday, Yogi Adityanath said, “The Delhi-Meerut rapid rail project is a very important project for the state and the country. The government will focus on the project and ensure that it is done on a priority basis. Efforts have been underway for this project even earlier, we will ensure that the work is speeded up.”
The Board of NCRTC had cleared the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit Corridor (RRTC) that will enable travel at the rate of 160 kmh. The 92km-long corridor, with a capital investment of Rs 21,902 crore, will bring down travel time between Delhi and Meerut to 60 minutes by a normal train.
The state government had recently given its nod for the project report that had been prepared by the Meerut Development Authority (MDA). “Last week, there was a meeting in Lucknow where we discussed the report and a presentation was made by the NCRTC to the state officials. The state accepted the report,” said MDA vice chairman Yogendra Yadav. “Now, it is up to the NCRTC to implement the project,” said Vivek Bhaskar, MDA’s assistant town planner.
The project, conceived more than 10 years ago, is a segment of a larger plan to connect important towns in the NCR region with Delhi through a high speed based commuter transit system. The entire corridor is expected to be completed by 2024.
The corridor will originate at the Sarai Kale Khan bus terminal and pass through Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut regions before terminating at Modipuram. Of the 92.05 km-long stretch, 60.354km will be on an elevated viaduct, 30.245 km will be underground, while 1.451 km will be at grade for connections to two depots, one each at Duhai and Modipuram. In Delhi and Meerut the RRTC will be underground, including the stretch where the line will cross the Yamuna. The section running along the median of the Delhi-Meerut highway will be elevated. The line will have 17 stations.
Sources said that the Delhi-Meerut RRTC is expected to carry about 7.91 lakh passengers in 2024, 9.20 lakh in 2031 and 11.40 lakh passengers by 2041. The peak hour peak day traffic has been estimated at 18,224 in 2024, 22,215 in 2031 and 26,462 in 2041.
As per the project report, the 38.05km Sahibabad-Meerut south section, including the Duhai depot, is likely to commence revenue operations in January 2023, the 16.60 km Sarai Kale Khan-Sahibabad in January 2024 and the remaining 37.40 km Meerut South-Modipuram in July 2024.