Delhi-NCR September delight: Namo Bharat RRTS and Pink Line extension to open around PM Modi's birthday

Delhi-NCR is preparing for a major upgrade in public transport connectivity, with two projects expected to be inaugurated around Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s birthday on September 17.

These are the 82-kilometre-long Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor linking Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut, and the 12.3-kilometre Majlis Park-Maujpur Metro corridor, an extension of the Pink Line. Both projects are significant, not only for Delhi but also for the entire National Capital Region (NCR), as they promise faster, smoother, and more integrated travel for lakhs of commuters every day, The Times of India reported.

The Namo Bharat corridor is a flagship project designed to connect Delhi with its satellite cities in record time. Out of the total 82 kilometres, a 55-kilometre section, stretching across 11 stations from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South, is already operational.

The remaining stretch has also been fully prepared, and trial runs were successfully completed last month. At present, trains run every 15 minutes, but once the entire corridor opens, the frequency will increase to one train every 10 minutes, making it much more convenient.

The travel time is set to be reduced. For instance, a journey from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut will take only 58 minutes. The final station at Modipuram lies within Meerut city and will enhance connectivity much more than the current Meerut South station, which is located at the border of the city.

Of the three stations in Delhi, Anand Vihar and New Ashok Nagar are currently operational. The third station, Sarai Kale Khan, will become a major transport hub due to the presence of the metro station (Pink Line), Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT and city bus services, as per the TOI report.

Alongside, the Delhi Metro is set to add another key achievement with the opening of the Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor. This will be the first line under the Phase IV expansion of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

The Pink Line, which currently runs from Majlis Park to Shiv Vihar and is the longest line in the network at over 59 kilometres, will now form a complete ring once the new corridor with eight stations becomes operational.

The two highlights of this corridor, the bridge over the Yamuna and the double-decker section, are also ready. Delhi's first 1.4 km-long double-decker viaduct between Bhajanpura and Yamuna Vihar on this corridor will transform the landscape of northeast Delhi. It will have the metro move on the upper deck and vehicles on the lower deck.

Second, the Metro will cross the Yamuna River for the fifth time, with the newly constructed bridge linking Soorghat and Sonia Vihar stations. This is one of 25 bridges on the 22-kilometre stretch of the Yamuna between Wazirabad barrage and Okhla barrage.

None of the eight stations in the Majlis Park-Maujpur corridor, Burari, Jharoda Majra, Jagatpur Village, Soorghat, Sonia Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Bhajanpura and Yamuna Vihar, will be underground.

These two projects are only part of the larger Phase IV expansion of Delhi Metro, under which three priority corridors are already under construction - RK Ashram Marg-Janakpuri West (extension of the Magenta Line), Aerocity-Tughlaqabad (the new Golden Line), and Majlis Park-Maujpur. Last year, three more corridors were approved, including Lajpat Nagar-Saket G Block, Inderlok-Indraprastha, and Rithala-Narela-Kundli. In total, DMRC is currently building around 112 kilometres of new metro lines across the national capital.

Earlier this year, on January 5, the first Phase IV stretch from Janakpuri West to Krishna Park Extension was opened to passengers.