The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has moved forward with plans to expand the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), submitting Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for four new corridors across the Delhi-NCR region.
The proposed routes include Delhi–Karnal, Delhi–Bawal, Bawal–Behror, and Ghaziabad–Noida International Airport, according to a written reply tabled in the Rajya Sabha by Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu.
The expansion follows the launch of the 82.15 km Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, currently the only operational RRTS line in the country after receiving Central approval in 2019.
Responding to questions from Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha, the minister said the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), through its Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032, has identified eight RRTS corridors to create a semi-high-speed rail network linking major towns across the National Capital Region.
Besides the operational Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut route, the identified corridors include Delhi–Gurugram–Rewari–Alwar, Delhi–Sonipat–Panipat, Delhi–Faridabad–Ballabhgarh–Palwal, Delhi–Bahadurgarh–Rohtak, Delhi–Shahdara–Baraut, Ghaziabad–Khurja and Ghaziabad–Hapur.
Addressing queries on the status of the Delhi–Panipat–Karnal and Delhi–Gurugram–SNB–Alwar projects, as well as the proposed Namo Bharat connection to Noida International Airport, Sahu said the submitted DPRs are undergoing detailed scrutiny before any decision on financial assistance is taken.
“The Namo Bharat RRTS projects are cost intensive proposals and therefore, undergo intensive examination at different levels in Central Government. After such examination, Central Government considers financial assistance to RRTS projects, based on feasibility of the proposal and availability of resources,” Sahu said.
