PM Modi inaugurates full Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor

February 22, 2026:Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the remaining sections of the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), including the 5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and the 21 km stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh. The RRTS has been integrated with the Meerut Metro services, which were also launched.
Mr. Modi said the entire 82 km corridor of the RRTS project provides a glimpse of what connectivity will look like in a developed India that uses Metro rail for intra-city travel and the Namo Bharat trains to accelerate the “twin cities” vision. “This integration allows commuters to travel within the city or go directly to Delhi, thus ending the compulsion for many workers and students to live in rented houses in Delhi. A unique feature of the project is the integration of Indian Railways, Metro, and bus stands at Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, and Meerut,” Mr. Modi said.
Talking about development in the regions, Mr. Modi said, “The government’s investment in modern infrastructure, including expressways, freight corridors, and the Jewar International Airport is creating vast employment opportunities. These projects attract new industries and business to the region”.
Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal, speaking at the inauguration, said the proposal for two new rapid rail corridors starting from Sarai Kale Khan is expected to be approved soon. “One corridor is planned from Sarai Kale Khan to Karnal in Haryana, covering a distance of around 125-130 km, which can be completed in about one-and-a-half hours. Another route is proposed to connect Sarai Kale Khan with Babarpur in Haryana and Neemrana in Rajasthan,” the Minister said. Referring to the broader NCR plan, the Minister said fast rail links would help distribute population and economic activity across districts in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, easing the burden on the capital.
The Sarai Kale Khan station, the originating station of the corridor, is strategically located as a major multi-modal hub, seamlessly connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and the Ring Road.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, commenting on the launch, said the Delhi-Meerut corridor will transform the Capital’s pace of development and stimulate economic activity in the Delhi-NCR region, strengthen employment opportunities and accelerate balanced regional development. “The corridor will help passengers save time and resources, marking a historic milestone for Delhi and the surrounding region as the project is expected to ease traffic congestion and reduce carbon emissions by reducing the number of private vehicles on the roads, thereby creating a positive environmental impact,” Ms. Gupta said in a statement.
The RRTS is different from conventional railways as it will provide reliable, high-frequency, point-to-point regional travel at high speed along a dedicated pathway. It is also different from the Metro as it caters to passengers travelling relatively longer distances with fewer stops and at higher speed.