RRTS Network Expands: Noida Airport Station Design Under Discussion

The Yamuna Authority has called upon the Uttar Pradesh government to determine whether the proposed rapid rail station at the Noida International Airport's transportation centre should be elevated or underground.

The planned 72km combined corridor for Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) and metro aims to connect Noida airport to the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor and encompass 25 stations.

The RRTS, India's first Regional Rail Service, offers a unique rail-based commuter service for regional transit in the National Capital Region.

Currently, a 34-km stretch between Sahibabad and Modi Nagar North, comprising eight stations, is operational. The Delhi segment, encompassing four stations, is likely to become ready by early 2025, with the entire 82-km corridor anticipated to be operational by June 2025.

A detailed project report, submitted by the NCR Transport Corporation (NCRTC) in April, initially recommended an elevated RRTS station in front of the Ground Transport Center of Noida International Airport.

However, the concessionaire, Yamuna International Airport Pvt Ltd (YIAPL), has proposed an underground track instead, citing alignment preferences and potential airport development plans, reports Economic Times.

Alignment changes and cost estimates

During discussions with YIAPL, a subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, proposals were made for realigning the RRTS corridor and relocating certain facilities within the airport area to accommodate an underground station.

YIAPL argues that this alignment would align with the airport's development plan and facilitate potential future extensions of the RRTS corridor. However, NCRTC estimates that the underground station would add Rs 600 crore to the project's total cost of Rs 20,000 crore.

Project status and future plans

The DPR (detailed project report) for the RRTS corridor has been divided into two sections, with construction set to commence simultaneously. The first section will span 39.39 km from Ghaziabad RRTS station to Ecotech VI near Kasna, featuring seven RRTS and 11 metro stations.

The second section, covering 32.9 km from Ecotech VI to Noida airport, initially includes four RRTS stations with provisions for additional future stations. Both sections are scheduled to be operational by April 2030.