Prime Minister Narendra Modi today inaugurated the Delhi section of the Namo Bharat corridor, marking a significant milestone in the project’s development. This newly opened section stretches between Ashok Nagar and Sahibabad, spanning 13 kilometers. Notably, six kilometers of this stretch are underground, with the Anand Vihar station serving as a key stop along the corridor.
With this launch, Namo Bharat trains have officially entered the national capital, bringing a major step forward in the connectivity between Delhi and Meerut. The Prime Minister had previously inaugurated a 17-kilometer priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot in October last year. This is also the first instance of Namo Bharat trains operating in an underground section, a development highlighted by officials.
Passenger services will begin from 5 pm today, with trains running at intervals of 15 minutes. The fare for travel from the New Ashok Nagar RRTS station to Meerut South has been set at Rs 150 for a standard coach and Rs 225 for a premium coach.
Currently, a 42-kilometer stretch between Sahibabad and Meerut South, featuring nine stations, is operational. With the latest addition, the Namo Bharat corridor’s operational stretch now extends to 55 kilometers, including 11 stations.
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This new development directly connects Meerut to Delhi, cutting travel time by a third. Commuters will now be able to journey from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South in under 40 minutes. The Anand Vihar underground station, one of the largest on the corridor, will facilitate travel to Meerut South in just 35 minutes.
At the Anand Vihar station, three bridges have been constructed over the Ghazipur drain to improve vehicle and pedestrian movement. Two bridges are designated for vehicle entry and exit, while one is dedicated solely to pedestrians.
New Ashok Nagar marks the first elevated Namo Bharat station in the Delhi section. Here, the corridor crosses the New Ashok Nagar metro station at a height of 20 meters. Additionally, a commercial center has been planned at this station for the convenience of commuters. A 90-meter-long foot overbridge will connect it to the Blue Line of Delhi Metro.
Since the beginning of operations, Namo Bharat trains have served over 50 lakh passengers. Ongoing construction in other sections, such as New Ashok Nagar-Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut South-Modipuram, is expected to further expand the network.
Once fully operational, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 2.5 lakh tonnes annually and take over one lakh private vehicles off the road. The corridor spans 82 kilometers from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Modipuram in Meerut, featuring 16 Namo Bharat stations and nine additional stations for the Meerut Metro.
