Sahibabad, UP:

Services on a priority section of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor began on Saturday and the ridership is expected to cross the 10,000-mark on day one, a senior official of the NCRTC said.

The much-anticipated commencement of commercial operations on the 17-km section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor began amid excitement among passengers.

The inaugural ‘Namo Bharat’ train journey kicked off at 6 am, and the services received an “overwhelming response” from commuters, some of whom had arrived as early as 4.30 am, eager to be a part of this historic journey, even from nearby areas like Muradnagar and from far-off areas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, a senior official of the NCRTC said.

Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) also took a ride on the inaugural day of the ‘Namo Bharat’ train services.

He welcomed the first set of passengers of India’s first ‘Namo Bharat’ train in the morning, and also interacted with them at platforms and in coaches, officials said.

The first set of passengers have also been acknowledged as the ‘First Rider’ and a certificate been provided, they said.

‘Namo Bharat’ trains are equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated this section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor by unveiling a plaque at its Sahibabad station and also took a ride in a train.

Passenger services will go on till 11 pm, and October 21 being a weekend, the numbers are expected to swell further till the end of revenue services, the officials said.

It is expected that the ‘Namo Bharat’ train ridership can “easily cross the 10,000-mark on the very first day of the services, as per the last update,” the NCRTC said in a statement in the evening.

Since morning, passengers were excited and some of them even danced in the aisles inside coaches, expressing their sheer joy and excitement of being the riders of India’s first ‘Namo Bharat’ train. Families and friends also had gathered, clicked pictures, took selfies, and captured videos, all eager to be a part of this historic moment, the NCRTC officials said.

India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail service seeks to redefine travel in the region with swift speed and latest technology.

The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 kmph, and operational speed potential of 160 kmph.

The priority section, between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, has five stations — Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The segment from Duhai to Duhai Depot is a spur from the main corridor.

Travellers from all walks of life including women, senior citizens, and children were among the first set of passengers, the NCRTC said.

“More crowd was seen at Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, and besides those who came just to experience the ride, many office-goers were also among the passengers on day one. A family came with many of their members, old and young, all the way from Kailash Colony in Delhi to take a ride from Sahibabad station,” a senior official of the NCRTC said.

The NCRTC has been tasked to oversee the construction of India’s first RRTS, between Delhi and Meerut.

The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025.

Every ‘Namo Bharat’ train has six coaches, including a premium coach. One coach in every train is reserved for women and it is the coach next to the premium coach.

Also, there are reserved seats for women, specially-abled, and senior citizens in other coaches.

Premium coaches have a seat with a different colour code, a provision for installing a vending machine in future, besides a host of additional commuter-centric features like reclining seats, coat hooks, magazine holders and footrests.

Entry to premium-class coach is through a gated premium lounge at platforms. Every lounge has cushioned seats and a vending machine facility.

People can commute between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations on this line in about 12 minutes, officials said.

A one-way journey from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot station on the priority section of this RRTS corridor will cost Rs 50, while the fare for the same route will be Rs 100 in a premium-class coach.

To provide last-mile connectivity to passengers, the NCRTC has ensured availability of electric auto-rickshaws under RRTS feeder services, by roping in service providers stations, the statement.

The DTC has also started an AC electric bus service from Anand Vihar to Sahibabad station with a frequency of 20 minutes. According to the schedule, the first AC electric bus will depart from Anand Vihar ISBT at 6.20 am, while the last one do so at 9.35 pm. From Sahibabad it will be available from 7.05 am to 10.20 pm, it added.

More than 2,000 downloads of the RRTS Connect App took place on day one of passenger operations on the priority section of India’s first RRTS corridor, the NCRTC said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh):

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor and called it a historic moment for the entire country.

Addressing the public after the inauguration of 17 Km priority section, PM Modi said,”This is a historic moment for the entire country. Today the functioning of RRTS corridor have begun also India’s first Rapid Rail services – Namo Bharat train are being dedicated to the nation.”

“Four years back, I laid the foundation stone of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. I had said earlier too and I say it today as well – Jiska shilanyaas hum karte hain, uska udghatan bhi hum hi karte hain (What we lay for foundation, we inaugurate it as well,” he added.

PM Modi further stated that Namo Bharat train is a symbol of women empowerment in the country.

“On this new train (Namo Bharat), from driver to the entire crew – they are all women. This is the symbol of growing women empowerment in India,” he said.

Recalling his childhood memories of travelling in train, PM Modi said,” I had the opportunity to experience travel on this ultra-modern train (Namo Bharat). I spent my childhood on the railway platform and today this new form of the railways is filling me with joy. This experience is delightful. We have the tradition of performing auspicious works during Navratri. India’s first Namo Bharat train has received the blessings of Maa Katyayani today.”

The 17 Km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to ‘Duhai Depot’ with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way. The foundation stone for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on 8th March 2019.

Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said,”The success of this project is equivalent to Chandrayan 3. Soon we will have the largest metro network in the world.”

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said, “It is a gift to us in Navratri. In the last nine and half years we have witnessed world class infrastructure under your visionary leadership. On the lines of Airport, railway stations are being developed. Vande bharat is the symbol of New India.”

On the occasion, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai depot, marking the launch of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India. This is India’s first RapidX train which will be known as NaMo Bharat.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor at Uttar Pradesh’s Sahibabad RapidX station– a state-of-the-art regional mobility solution aimed to transform regional connectivity in the country through construction of new world class transport infrastructure.

The Prime Minister also flagged off the RapidX train connecting Sahibabad to Duhai depot, marking the launch of RRTS in India. This is India’s first RapidX train which will be known as “Namo Bharat”.

The 17 km priority section of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor will connect Sahibabad to Duhai depot with stations at Ghaziabad, Guldhar and Duhai on the way. The foundation stone for Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by the Prime Minister on March 8, 2019. With the train service operational, the travel time between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot will be 12 minutes, which would usually take around 30-35 minutes by road.

The RRTS project is developed in line with the Prime Minister’s vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through construction of new world class transport infrastructure. The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system. 

With a design speed of 180 kmph, RRTS is a transformational, regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, which can go up to a frequency of every 5 minutes as per requirement.

The Sahibabad RRTS station from where the Prime Minister flagged off India’s first RapidX train is just 4 km away from the Vaishali Metro Station situated on the Blue line of the Delhi Metro.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)