Meerut (UP), February 22 Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat train from the Shatabdi Nagar station on Sunday, boosting high-speed intercity travel and rapid intra-city movement.
From there, the Prime Minister also took a metro ride to Meerut South station.
He will also inaugurate and dedicate several development projects worth around Rs 12,930 crore in Meerut to the nation.
Modi will also address the gathering on the occasion, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.
The Prime Minister dedicated the entire 82 km Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor to the nation and inaugurated the remaining sections of India's first Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), including the 5 km section between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the 21 km section between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.
With a design speed of 180 km per hour, Namo Bharat is India's first regional rapid transit system. It will connect major urban centers such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut with Delhi at a faster pace.
Sarai Kale Khan station, the originating station of the corridor, is one of the four Namo Bharat stations inaugurated on this occasion.
It 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.
The other three Namo Bharat stations – Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram – are also in Meerut.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram, operating on the same infrastructure as Namo Bharat, in a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country.
The Meerut Metro will be India's fastest metro system with a maximum operational speed of around 120 kmph. The metro will cover the entire stretch in just 30 minutes, with all scheduled stops along the way.
This seamless integration of Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro on the same infrastructure will ensure high-speed intercity travel and rapid intra-city movement, setting a benchmark for integrated urban and regional transit in India.
It will decongest road traffic and consequently lead to a significant reduction in vehicular carbon dioxide emissions.
These projects will further bolster the Prime Minister's vision of transforming urban mobility and ensuring seamless, efficient, modern, and sustainable public transport systems that improve the quality of life for citizens, the statement said.
