India's First RRTS Network Named As RAPIDX

The country's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) which is coming up in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) has been named as RAPIDX.

This was announced on Tuesday (11 April) by the National Capital Region Transport Corporations (NCRTC).

“RAPIDX, with an operational speed of 160 kmph, will put life on a fast track in NCR. The vision to connect people and places at a faster pace, is all set to realise soon," read a message from the NCRTC.

“With high-speed high-frequency high-throughput regional connectivity across NCR, RAPIDX- India’s first Regional Rail will bring people and places closer," read the message.

The NCRTC also unveiled the logo of the RRTS on the same day which comprises three leaves inside a circle.

The brand name RAPIDX is easy to read and simple to pronounce in various languages. In addition to signifying speed and progress, the X in the name denotes next-gen technology and the new-age mobility solution. It also represents youth, optimism, and energy.

The green leaf symbol is the highlight of the brand’s commitment towards de-carbonization by not only decongesting NCR, reducing the number of vehicles on the road, but also by use of green energy.

NCRTC is tapping green energy by installation of solar panels on stations and depots as well as use of blended power in traction, which is planned to be increased progressively.

RRTS

The RRTS is a new, rail-based, dedicated, high capacity, comfortable commuter service.

With a design speed of 180 kmph and an average speed of 100 kmph, it aims to connect regional nodes in NCR.

In the first phase of the project, three corridors, namely, Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror Urban Complex)-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat are under implementation.

The 82-km-long Delhi-Meerut corridor is one of the three priority corridors of Phase-1 planned in the NCR and is expected to be operational by 2025.

In the next phase(s), five additional RAPIDX lines will be developed.

These are Delhi–Faridabad–Ballabgarh-Palwal, Ghaziabad–Khurja, Delhi- Bahadurgarh-Rohtak, Ghaziabad-Hapur and Delhi-Shahdara-Baraut.

The NCRTC which works under the administrative control of Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and is executing the RRTS project is a joint venture of the Government of India (50 per cent) and state governments of Haryana (12.5 per cent), NCT Delhi (12.5 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (12.5 per cent) and Rajasthan (12.5 per cent).

NCRTC is aiming to commission the entire Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor for the public by 2025.

Before that, it will operationalise a 17-km long Priority Section between Sahibabad and Duhai in 2023, before the scheduled time.