Kamal Ghorui
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugrated the Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat services in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi visited the Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station, where he flagged off the remaining portions of India’s first Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and country’s fastest metro. Alongside the transportation boost, PM Modi also unveiled development works worth almost Rs 12,930 crore to the nation.Addressing a public gathering after the inaugration, PM Modi said, “Today a new revolution is gaining energy for a developed Uttar Pradesh and a developed India. For the first time today, from the same platform, the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Metro Service are being inaugurated on the same day. This is a splendid glimpse of what the connectivity of a Viksit Bharat will be like. I am satisfied that this work has been done in Uttar Pradesh. Today’s program also reflects the work culture of the double-engine government of the BJP. Our work culture is that we have to work day and night to finish the project whose foundation stone has been laid.”
The 82 km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor includes 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and the 21-km segment between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. Designed for speeds of up to 180 kmph, the Namo Bharat system is intended to provide faster regional connectivity, linking Delhi with major urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Meerut. The Delhi-Meerut RRTS Namo Bharat will cut travel time between the two cities to less than 1 hour, benefiting commuters.
Sarai Kale Khan, marking the start of the corridor, is one of four Namo Bharat stations. The route stretches 14 km in Delhi, with 9 km elevated and 5 km underground, and covers 68 km in Uttar Pradesh, including 61 km elevated and 7 km underground.Serving as a key multi-modal hub, it links Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and Ring Road, ensuring smooth connectivity. The remaining three stations, Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram, are being commissioned in Meerut.
He also inaugurated the Meerut metro service between Meerut South and Modipuram. The metro will run on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat system, marking a first-of-its-kind arrangement in the country. With a maximum operational speed of about 120 kmph, Meerut Metro is expected to be India’s fastest metro network.The service will cover the entire stretch in roughly 30 minutes, including all scheduled halts. Both the Delhi–Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat RRTS will operate on the same infrastructure, creating a seamless integration that enables fast and efficient high-speed intercity travel.
Running along a 21-km corridor with 12 stations, its fully air-conditioned three-coach trains feature lightweight stainless-steel designs in green, blue, and orange. Energy-efficient and equipped with regenerative braking, CCTV, USB ports, and modern train automation systems, each train carries over 700 passengers, with 173 seats, including reserved spots for women, seniors, and differently-abled commuters.After the inaugration, PM Modi also took a metro ride to the Meerut South Station. Ahead of the inauguration, UP CM Yogi Adityanath announced that PM Modi will boost the development of ‘New Uttar Pradesh’ by launching the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train in the city. Describing it as a milestone, he said, “today, a golden chapter will be added to Uttar Pradesh’s journey of progress.”Also see | Travel at 160 kmph on Namo Bharat: Check route, stations, timing — key detailsTogether, the transportation boost is expected to enable quicker intercity movement alongside efficient urban travel. The projects are also aimed at easing road congestion and reducing vehicular carbon dioxide emissions, in line with the PM’s focus on modern, seamless and sustainable public transport systems to improve ease of living.
