Delhi And Haridwar To Get Connected By Rapid Rail: Feasibility Study To Start Soon

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is considering extending the Delhi-Meerut Rapid Rail to Muzaffarnagar, with plans to further connect it to Haridwar, potentially significantly enhancing religious tourism in the region.

The proposed extension will reduce the journey from Delhi to Haridwar to just two hours.

Popularly known as Namo Bharat, the Regional Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) is a new rail-based system with a designed speed potential of 180 kmph and operational speed potential of 160 kmph, making them semi-high speed train sets.

The RRTS — a brainchild of the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) — was first mooted in 2012 to de-congest the roads and bring down pollution in Delhi, while ensuring high-speed connectivity between the Capital and its satellite towns Panipat in Haryana, Meerut in Uttar Pradesh and Alwar in Rajasthan.

During a recent meeting of the NCRPB, it was unanimously agreed to conduct a thorough physical survey to assess the feasibility and execution of extending the Rapid Rail to Haridwar through Muzaffarnagar, writes Economic Times.

A detailed project report will be formulated, taking into account various factors such as the anticipated social impact, the pace of development, and the number of beneficiaries.

The 82-km-long Delhi-Meerut corridor is the first RRTS corridor currently under implementation in the the National Capital Region.

In October 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Namo Bharat train between Sahibabad to Duhai.

Trials are currently underway for the additional 25 km stretch beyond Duhai to Meerut South RRTS station, and soon the Namo Bharat trains will be operational on this section as well.