The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has initiated trial runs of the Namo Bharat train between New Ashok Nagar and Sarai Kale Khan—a key milestone towards full-scale operations on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS (Regional Rapid Transit System) corridor.
The initial trial run, conducted manually on Saturday night, aimed to test signalling compatibility and evaluate coordination with core subsystems such as tracks, platform screen doors (PSDs), and the overhead power supply. The trial also marked the first-ever crossing of the Yamuna River by a Namo Bharat train.
This segment includes two major engineering feats:
- A 1.3 km bridge over the Yamuna River, supported by 32 pillars, running parallel to the DND Yamuna Bridge.
- A viaduct over Barapullah flyover and Ring Road, enabling the train to reach the under-construction Sarai Kale Khan station.
Spanning 4.5 km, this stretch will connect Sarai Kale Khan to New Ashok Nagar, enhancing seamless, high-speed connectivity to Meerut. With this addition, the 82-km corridor is moving closer to becoming fully operational by the end of 2025, promising travel time from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram, Meerut in under one hour.
Sarai Kale Khan: The Emerging Multimodal Hub
As the starting point of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor, Sarai Kale Khan station is poised to become one of the busiest transport hubs:
- Equipped with 12 escalators, 4 lifts, and Platform Screen Doors.
- Currently undergoing finishing touches on five entry-exit points.
- Seamlessly integrating with:
- Delhi Metro’s Pink Line
- Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station
- Veer Haqiqat Rai ISBT
- Ring Road Bus Stand
The Delhi section of the Namo Bharat corridor spans 14 km and includes three stations: Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, and Anand Vihar (underground). Of these, Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar are already operational.
Current Operational Section
Presently, the Namo Bharat corridor runs across a 55-km stretch from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South, covering 11 stations. These include:
- New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Modi Nagar South, Modi Nagar North, and Meerut South.
Vision Ahead
NCRTC is steadily working toward the goal of making the entire 82-km corridor operational this year. Once fully functional, this RRTS line will revolutionise intercity travel in the National Capital Region, offering fast, reliable, and air-conditioned transport, while significantly cutting down commute time and contributing to decongestion and sustainability.