Namo Bharat Trains To Hit Delhi Tracks Soon: Trial Runs To Begin By Year-End

The trial run of the regional rapid train, ‘Namo Bharat’ from Sahibabad to Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar is expected to commence by the last quarter of this year, with trial runs at the other two Delhi stations starting later.

Stretching over 82.15 km from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is India's first regional rail service.

Being built by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the network will encompass 25 stations and two depots, linking Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut upon its anticipated completion by 2025.

The service, branded as Namo Bharat, is designed to carry around 800,000 passengers a day at full capacity — a similar number to Hamburg's S-Bahn. The travel speed of the trains is 160 kmph, thereby becoming fastest regional rail system in India. 

Currently, only a 34-kilometre section between Sahibabad and Modinagar North, comprising eight stations, is operational. Additionally, the 8-kilometre stretch from Modinagar North to Meerut South is awaiting approval from the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety (CMRS) and will become operational soon.

According to Puneet Vats, chief public relations officer of the NCRTC, construction activities at both Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar are at an advanced stage. He further mentioned that at New Ashok Nagar, track-laying on the downline is complete, and the task on the upline is likely to be finished within a month.

The Delhi section of the corridor will have four stations: Anand Vihar, New Ashok Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, and Jangpura.

While the construction of Sarai Kale Khan is progressing well, the Jangpura RRTS station, which includes a stabling yard for train maintenance, an operational control centre, office complexes, and residential towers, will take more time, according to an official.

The Delhi segment is expected to be ready by early 2025, with the entire 82-km corridor slated for operation by June 2025. The project is being developed at a cost of Rs 30,274 crore.