RRTS Ghaziabad: Daily Ridership Increases Fourfold As 34 Km Stretch Goes Operational

The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Ghaziabad has witnessed a significant increase in average daily ridership, quadrupling since the inauguration of the second 17 km section of the high-speed corridor last week, according to National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).

The initial 17 km priority section, linking Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, was opened for public use, comprising five stations including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot. These stations witnessed a daily average ridership ranging from 2,500 to 3,000 passengers.

The subsequent addition of the second section, which includes Muradnagar, Modinagar (south), and Modinagar (north) stations on 8 March, has further boosted the daily ridership for the entire 34 km corridor to 12,000 commuters. Both sections were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The RRTS, India's first Regional Rail Service, offers a unique rail-based commuter service for regional transit in the National Capital Region. The corridor spans 82.15 km from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, making it the country's inaugural RRTS.

Puneet Vats, Chief Public Relations Officer of NCRTC, highlighted a notable trend, indicating that Modinagar (north) and Ghaziabad stations collectively contribute to 25 per cent of the daily average ridership along the 34 km stretch. Previously, Sahibabad and Duhai stations were the busiest hubs when only the first section was operational, reports Hindustan Times.

According to an NCRTC spokesperson, the Ghaziabad station has observed increased activity following the launch of the second section, as passengers utilise it for travel towards trans-Hindon areas or to catch trains heading to Muradnagar and Modinagar. 

Similarly, Modinagar (north) station has seen a rise in footfall, particularly from Meerut-bound passengers seeking connections to Ghaziabad and Sahibabad, being the last station in Ghaziabad closest to Meerut.

Officials are considering integrating the Meerut (south) station with the existing 34 km section, expecting a further surge in passengers from Meerut.

Dubbed as "Namo Bharat," the rapid rail operates at a maximum speed of 160 km h, with an average speed of 90 km h including all designated stops, making it a semi-high-speed train set.

The 34 km corridor in Ghaziabad is part of the larger 82 km RRTS project aimed at connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, with a budget of Rs 30,274 crore. Currently, eight stations are operational in Ghaziabad, out of the planned total of 25 stations for the entire project, including four in Delhi and thirteen in Meerut.

Officials project the completion of the 14 km RRTS stretch in Delhi by the end of 2024, with the entire 82 km route slated for completion by June 2025.