NCR Rapid Rail Expansion: Two new corridors from Sarai Kale Khan to boost connectivity | Details inside

“One corridor from Sarai Kale Khan to Karnal in Haryana, ranging between 125-130 km, is likely to be completed in one and a half hours,” he said.

Another proposed corridor will connect Sarai Kale Khan with Babarpur in Haryana and Neemrana in Rajasthan, Khattar said. The Sarai Kale Khan station, which was inaugurated through a virtual ceremony by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Meerut, will be a major interchange point for the Delhi-Meerut RRTS and future rapid rail corridors.

The station is an important node that will mark the beginning of the next chapter of transport planning in the NCR, Khattar said, adding that it is essential to develop the rapid rail and metro networks as Delhi is set to become a major economic hub.

Khattar emphasised the need for transit-oriented development, where residential and commercial areas would be developed around metro and rapid rail stations to minimize the need for road transport.

He also emphasised the need for last-mile connectivity to facilitate easy movement between stations, residences, offices, and markets. “The only way to decongest Delhi is to develop transport and housing together,” he said.

Talking about the overall plan for the NCR, the minister said that the fast rail network would help spread population and economic activity in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, thus relieving the pressure on the capital.

The minister was proud to point out that the metro rail network in the country has grown from 248 km in five cities a decade ago to over 1,100 km in 24 cities today.

Khattar said that the number of daily metro commuters in Delhi has increased to 1.25 crore passengers. According to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), the services of Namo Bharat trains on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor have been further extended at both ends.

Namo Bharat Trains Extended: Services now run from New Ashok Nagar to Modipuram

The services will now start from New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Sarai Kale Khan, and from Meerut South to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. The NCRTC said that Namo Bharat trains will run between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram, and the trains will halt at the following stations: Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, Duhai Depot, Muradnagar, Modinagar South, Modinagar North, Meerut South, Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram.

In addition to it, Meerut Metro services will commence on the Meerut South–Modipuram section, stopping at Meerut South, Partapur, Rithani, Shatabdi Nagar, Bramhapuri, Meerut Central, Bhaisali, Begumpul, MES Colony, Daurli, Meerut North, and Modipuram. According to the NCRTC, both Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro services on the extended sections will begin operations from 6 pm on February 22.