Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the Namo Bharat train from Uttar Pradesh's Meerut, which will significantly reduce the travel time between the UP district and the national capital.
Along with the Namo Bharat train, the prime minister will also inaugurate the Meerut Metro at the Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station. He will also undertake a metro ride till Meerut South Station.
With the inauguration, the 82-km stretch from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South will be fully operational, making it India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS).
At present, only 55 km of the total 82.15 km stretch was operational. The new sections include 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.
Namo Bharat to connect major urban centres
The Namo Bharat train will connect major urban centres in Uttar Pradesh, including Sahibadad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Meerut with the national capital with a design speed of 180 kmph and operational speed of 160 kmph.
The originating corridor, Sarai Kale Khan, is also one of the four stations to be commissioned on February 22.
The Sarai Kale Khan station will turn into a major multi-modal hub, seamlessly connecting Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Delhi Metro's Pink Line, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and Ring Road.
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The other three stations that are being commissioned tomorrow are Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul and Modipuram in Meerut.
The inauguration of the first 'Namo Bharat Train' will be a step towards strengthening regional connectivity in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Friday.
Currently, the 55 km corridor between New Ashoke Nagar and Meerut South, with 11 stations, is operational.
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Meerut- Delhi travel time to be reduced to 40-45 mins
Talking about the inauguration of Namo Bharat, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that the PM will inaugurate India's first Namo Bharat Train between Meerut and Delhi. "The train will reduce travel time between the two cities to 40–45 minutes," ANI quoted Aditynath as saying.
He also said that the two corridors being developed for the Namo Bharat train and the Meerut Metro will give "a new dimension to regional connectivity."
CM Adityanath also inspected the arrangements at Meerut South Namo Bharat Station ahead of PM Modi's visit. Further, a trial run was also conducted on Saturday between Begumpul, Meerut, and Sarai Kale Khan.
The Namo Bharat train is different from the metro as it caters to passengers looking to travel relatively longer distances with fewer stops.