India’s eagerly awaited semi-high-speed regional rail service, known as RapidX, has undergone a name change, with the train now being christened as “NaMo Bharat.” This rebranding took place a day ahead of the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a momentous milestone in India’s rail transportation.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced that Prime Minister Modi would officially launch the NaMo Bharat train, which will connect Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, signifying the introduction of India’s Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
This RRTS initiative is hailed as a transformative regional development, designed to offer high-speed intercity commuting services at a remarkable frequency. Trains are scheduled to run every 15 minutes, with the potential to increase this frequency to every five minutes to accommodate varying passenger needs, as stated by the PMO.
The renaming of the RapidX service to NaMo Bharat has drawn some political commentary, with the opposition taking a swipe at the Prime Minister’s self-branded projects. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh remarked, “After Namo stadium, now Namo trains. There is simply no limit to his self-obsession.”
The 17-kilometer priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is set to open its doors to passengers on October 21, a day following its official inauguration. This initial segment, connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, encompasses five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot.
Noteworthy safety features on this regional rail service include CCTV cameras, an emergency door-opening mechanism, and a communication button for passengers to interact with the train operator.
While the trains on this corridor have the capacity to reach speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour, the operational speed will be regulated by officials for safety and efficiency.
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is a colossal infrastructure project with an estimated cost exceeding ₹30,000 crore. It is poised to provide efficient connectivity between Delhi and Meerut, with a travel time of less than an hour, passing through key urban centers like Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar, as outlined by the PMO.
The ambitious project aims to have the entire 82.15-kilometer Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS operational by June 2025, thereby addressing the pressing transportation needs of a growing urban population and enhancing regional connectivity.
Sources By Agencies
