WATCH: PM Modi buys first ticket of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, interacts with co-passengers

Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad Friday. As he inaugurated the Namo Bharat RRTS trains corridor, he purchased the first ticket and also interacted with schoolchildren as well as RRTS staff members as he took a ride on RAPIDX train.

The Prime Minister inaugurated a 17-kilometre priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot on October 20. The services on this section will commence from October 21.

The entire 82.15-km RRTS corridor will be fully operational around June 2025 and have 24 stations, while the priority section has five stations – Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and the Duhai Depot.

VIDEO | PM Modi buys the first ticket as he inaugurates the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor in Sahibabad, Ghaziabad. pic.twitter.com/N6GhuTDZMI

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023

During his ride on Regional Rapid Train Namo Bharat, PM Modi interacted with co-passengers who shared their experiences, including on how the train service will have a positive impact.

VIDEO | PM Modi interacts with schoolchildren and RRTS staff members as he takes a ride on RAPIDX train, connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations. pic.twitter.com/0Vv652dUZJ

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 20, 2023

The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) also shared PM Modi's picture of interacting with students and RRTS staff onboard Namo Bharat.

PM @narendramodi is on board the Regional Rapid Train Namo Bharat with co-passengers who are sharing their experiences, including on how this train service will have a positive impact. pic.twitter.com/pIsZ5vnXcM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) October 20, 2023

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the inauguration of Regional Rapid Train Namo Bharat between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot by PM Modi marks the beginning of a new era of state-of-the-art ultra modern urban commute in the country.

The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 kmph.

In April, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) had named RRTS trains as 'RAPIDX'. NCRTC is implementing India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service project.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Puri announced that RRTS trains will be known as 'Namo Bharat'.

The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 kmph.

The Indian Railways is already operating semi-high-speed trains -- 'Vande Bharat' -- in different parts of the country.

In another post on X, Puri said: "Indigenously manufactured with a designed speed potential of 180 kmph and operational speed potential of 160 kmph, the fully air conditioned, safe and comfortable train will take less than an hour to cover 82 km between Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut."

The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by Prime Minister Modi on March 8, 2019.

Namo Bharat ticket price

According to NCRTC, the standard class customers on Namo Bharat will be charged Rs 50 to ride the priority section between Sahibabad to Duhai depot, while a Premium Class ticket will cost Rs 100.

Namo Bharat train service timings

As per a statement by PMO, the Namo Bharat trains will ply between 6 am and 11 pm and will initially run every 15 minutes.

"The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is being developed at a cost of more than Rs 30,000 crore, and will connect Delhi to Meerut in less than an hour of travel time going through the urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar,” the PMO statement read.