India is witnessing a historic moment in its transportation landscape with the launch of “RAPIDX,” the nation’s first regional train service. This groundbreaking initiative is set to revolutionize regional connectivity in the country, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating its inaugural section.
THE INAUGURATION
The inaugural section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, spanning 17 kilometers, was inaugurated at the Sahibabad RapidX Station in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi marked this momentous occasion by flagging off the “Namo Bharat RapidX” train, which will connect Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. This marks the commencement of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India, a significant leap in modernizing India’s transportation infrastructure.
PRIME MINISTER’S VISION
Prime Minister Modi emphasized the transformative impact of this project on India’s regional connectivity. He recalled laying the foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor four years ago and expressed his commitment to inaugurate projects initiated under his leadership. He shared his firsthand experience of traveling on the Namo Bharat earlier today and expressed his delight at the transformation of India’s railways.
DELHI-GHAZIABAD-MEERUT RRTS CORRIDOR
The 17-kilometer priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will link Sahibabad to the ‘Duhai Depot,’ with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar, and Duhai. The foundation stone for this corridor was laid on 8th March 2019. The RRTS project, with a design speed of 180 kilometres per hour, is poised to become a revolutionary development in regional transportation. It offers high-speed trains for intercity commuting with a frequency as high as every 5 minutes when needed.
TRANSFORMING REGIONAL MOBILITY
India has identified a total of eight RRTS corridors to be developed in the National Capital Region (NCR). Three of these corridors, including the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor, are prioritized for implementation in Phase-I. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS, with an estimated cost exceeding Rs 30,000 crore, will connect Delhi to Meerut in under an hour. This route will pass through key urban centres, including Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar.
The RRTS system in India is on par with international standards, providing safe, reliable, and modern intercity commuting solutions. It aligns with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan and ensures extensive multi-modal integration with railway stations, metro stations, bus services, and more. This transformative regional mobility solution is expected to boost economic activity, improve access to employment, education, and healthcare, and contribute significantly to the reduction of vehicular congestion and air pollution.
The launch of RAPIDX signifies a major milestone in India’s journey toward a modern, efficient, and sustainable regional transportation system.
