Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System

Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (Delhi–Meerut RRTS) is an 82.15 km long,[2][3][4] under-construction, semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. It is one of the three rapid-rail corridors planned under Phase-I of Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) project of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). With maximum speed of 160 km/h (99.42 mph), the distance between Delhi and Meerut will be covered in around 62 min (1.03 h).[5] The project will cost ₹30,274 crore (US$4.2 billion) and is expected to start operations by 2025.[3]

Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System

Overview
Owner	NCRTC
Area served	Delhi Ghaziabad Meerut
Locale	NCR
Transit type	Regional Rail
Number of lines	1
Number of stations	17
Website	ncrtc.in
Operation
Began operation	2023(Estd.)
Headway	5-10 minutes
Technical
System length	82 km (51 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge[1]
Electrification	25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead catenary
Average speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Top speed	160 km/h (99 mph)
System map Delhi-Meerut RRTS Sarai Kale Khan New Ashok Nagar Anand Vihar Delhi Uttar Pradesh border Sahibabad Ghaziabad Guldhar Duhai Muradnagar Modi Nagar South Modi Nagar North Meerut South Shatabdi Nagar Meerut Central Begumpul Meerut North Modipuram

Following the Galwan Valley skirmish on 15 June 2020, there were calls by Swadeshi Jagran Manch to the government to cancel the bid of a Chinese company related to the transit system.[6][7]

Timelines

• May 2017: Government of Uttar Pradesh approved DPR of Delhi-Meerut RRTS project.[8][9]
• February 2019: Central Govt approved 30,274 Cr Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut 82.15 km RRTS project.[10]
• March 2019: Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for this project.[11]
• June 2019: Pillar Construction work started.[12]

Introduction

The corridor would be beneficial for the development of the region and help connect the large number of townships and centres of economic activity that are already planned along this corridor.

Length = 82 km

Number of RRTS Stations =16

Number of additional Stations for Meerut MRTS = 6

Route

Map showing the three proposed RRTS lines along with Metro and Indian Railways services

Of the entire length, 68.03 km (42.27 mi) is elevated, 14.12 km (8.77 mi) is underground[2] and 1.45 km (0.90 mi) will be at grade for connections to two depots that will come up at Duhai, Ghaziabad and Modipuram, Meerut. In densely populated areas of Delhi and Meerut, the route will be underground, including that of the river Yamuna.[3] The entire route is designed for a maximum speed of 180 km/h (111.85 mph) and the operating speed will be 160 km/h (99.42 mph).[13][14] Average speed (including all the stops) will come around 100 km/h (62.14 mph).[14]

The Delhi-Meerut corridor starts from Sarai Kale Khan station in Delhi. The corridor will pass through areas of Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut, terminating at Modipuram in Meerut.[2][3]

Hazrat Nizamuddin Sarai Kale Khan will also become a transit hub with the presence of Hazrat Nizamuddin metro station, Sarai Kale Khan ISBT and the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station in vicinity.[3]

The 38.05 km (23.64 mi) long Sahibabad - Meerut South section, including Duhai Depot, is expected to become operational by January 2023, the 16.60 km (10.31 mi) Hazrat Nizamuddin - Sahibabad in January 2024 and the remaining 37.40 km (23.24 mi) Meerut South - Modipuram in July 2024.[3]

There will be a total of 16 stations [15] Multimodal transport hubs for integration with existing transportation such as Delhi Metro, Indian Railways, UPSRTC are planned at Anand Vihar, Sahibabad and Shaheed Sthal stations.[16]

Delhi Meerut RRTS Stations
No.	Station Name		Connections	Station Layout	Platform Type	Depot Connection	Depot Layout	Opening
	English	Hindi
1	Sarai Kale Khan - Nizamuddin	सराय काले खान - निजामुद्दीन	Pink Line   Indian Railways   ISBT	Elevated	Side	None	None	March 2024
2	New Ashok Nagar	न्यू अशोक नगर	Blue Line
3	Anand Vihar	आनंद विहार	Blue Line   Indian Railways   ISBT   Pink Line	Underground	Island
4	Sahibabad	साहिबाबाद	Blue Line   Indian Railways	Elevated	Side	None	None	March 2023
5	Ghaziabad	ग़ाज़ियाबाद	Indian Railways
6	Guldhar	गुलधर
7	Duhai	दुहाई		At Grade		Duhai Depot	At Grade
8	Murad Nagar	मुराद नगर		Elevated		None	None
9	Modi Nagar South	मोदीनगर दक्षिण
10	Modi Nagar North	मोदीनगर उत्तर
11	Meerut South	मेरठ दक्षिण
12	Shatabdi Nagar	शताब्दी नगर		Underground	Island	None	None	August 2024
13	Meerut Central	मेरठ केंद्रीय
14	Begumpul	बेगमपुल
15	Meerut North	मेरठ उत्तर		Elevated	Side
16	Modipuram	मोदीपुरम				Modipuram Depot	At Grade

Signalling & Train-Control System

National Capital Region Transport Corporation has decided to equip the line with European Train Control System (ETCS) Level 2 signalling solution. Tenders for its procurement were invited on April 17 2020.[17]

Rolling Stock

On May 1, 2020 Bombardier Transportation emerged as the lowest bidder among a group of 3 bidders to supply and maintain 210 coaches.[18]

Status update

2.June 2019 - Piling work has been started by National Capital Region Transport Corporation near Duhai[19]

3. December 2019 - Construction of pillar work is on full swing near Ghaziabad as well nearby Muradnagar.

Delhi Meerut Rapid Rail Project construction near Duhai

See also

• Delhi–Alwar Regional Rapid Transit System
• Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat Regional Rapid Transit System

References

1. Feasibility Report: RRTS Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut (PDF) (Report). Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
2. "NCRTC | Delhi – Meerut Corridor". ncrtc.in. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
3. Reporter, Staff. "Delhi-Meerut rapid rail project gets green light". NDTV. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
4. "Delhi - Meerut RRTS - Information, Route Maps, Fares, Tenders & Updates". The Metro Rail Guy. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
5. "NCRTC | Project Details". ncrtc.in. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
6. Arnimesh, Shanker (15 June 2020). "RSS affiliate wants Modi govt to cancel Chinese firm's bid for Delhi-Meerut RRTS project". ThePrint. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
7. Shrivastava, Rahul (16 June 2020). "Chinese firm bids lowest for Delhi-Meerut project, RSS affiliate asks Modi govt to scrap company's bid". India Today. Retrieved 18 June 2020.
8. "NCRTC | Uttar Pradesh Government Approves Delhi-Meerut RRTS". ncrtc.in. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
9. Agarwal, Kabir (6 May 2017). "Delhi-Meerut rapid rail priority for govt: CM Yogi". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
10. https://www.businesstoday.in/sectors/infra/govt-approves-rs-30274-cr-delhi-ghaziabad-meerut-regional-rapid-transport-system/story/320397.html
11. "PM Narendra Modi laid down the foundation stone for the project". Retrieved 8 March 2019.
12. "दिल्ली से मेरठ तक का सफर 60 मिनट में, रोजाना हजारों यात्रियों को होगा फायदा". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 4 June 2019.
13. PTI, Press Trust of India (6 December 2016). "NCRTC approves Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor". India Today. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
14. "NCRTC | RRTS – Background". ncrtc.in. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
15. "NCRTC|Delhi-Meerut Corridor". ncrtc.in. Archived from the original on 30 July 2017. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
16. "Delhi-Meerut RRTS: Hubs with connectivity to Delhi Metro, Indian Railways proposed on Delhi-Ghaziabad route". Financial Express. 19 March 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
17. "NCRTC Invites Bids for Delhi - Meerut RRTS' ETCS Signalling System". The Metro Rail Guy. 28 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
18. "Bombardier Lowest Bidder for Delhi-Meerut RRTS' 210 Coach Contract". The Metro Rail Guy. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
19. Rai, Sandeep (4 June 2019). "Work on Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor begins in Ghaziabad". The Times of India. Retrieved 13 April 2020.