• Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), calling the Namo Bharat train a glimpse of India’s promising future.

ABOUT NAMO BHARAT

• It is the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) named Namo Bharat train. Formerly, the Namo Bharat train was called “RAPIDX.”
• It will establish a Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor that will have a travel time of less than an hour through urban centers of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar.
• It is a National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) shuttle train that will run from Meerut to Delhi.
• The 17-km stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot in Uttar Pradesh was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
• The full 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is estimated to be functional by 2025.
• It has a top speed of 180 km/h.
• It is managed and operated by Deutsche Bahn, a German rail company.
• It will offer high-speed intercity commuter trains every 15 minutes, with the option to reduce the frequency to as little as every 5 minutes if necessary.
• It Developed at a cost of more than ₹30,000 crore.

HISTORY

• A study conducted by the Indian Railways in 1998-99 identified regional rapid transit system as an option for connecting regions of the NCR via high-speed commuter trains.
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) was established in 2013 to implement eight planned Regional Rapid Transit Systems (RRTS) throughout the NCR to relieve traffic in the 100–200 km radius surrounding Delhi.
• The NCRTC rebranded RRTS services as “RapidX” in April 2023.

ABOUT REGIONAL RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (RRTS)

• A high-frequency, high-speed commuter transit system, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) was created to enhance transportation in urban and suburban areas, especially in places with dense populations and heavy traffic.
• The main goal of RRTS is to offer quick, practical, and efficient public transportation choices.

ABOUT NCRTC

• The NCRTC is a joint venture company of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• It falls under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
• It is mandated to implement the RRTS project across the NCR and ensure balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.