NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): Two new Namo Bharat corridors connecting Delhi with Panipat-Karnal and Gurugram-Bawal are moving closer to approval. The Union Cabinet could clear the projects soon. The proposed corridors could reduce travel time from Delhi to Karnal to around 90 minutes and from Delhi to Bawal to about 67 minutes.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has already started preparatory work on both corridors while waiting for the Centre’s approval.
Delhi-Karnal Namo Bharat Corridor: Travel Time Could Reduce by Half
The proposed Delhi-Panipat-Karnal Namo Bharat corridor is expected to bring the journey between Delhi and Karnal down to around 90 minutes. At present, the journey can take nearly three hours.
NCRTC Managing Director Shalabh Goel told Financial Express Digital that the corridor is expected to reduce the travel time by about half. The route will connect several major urban, industrial and educational locations, including:
- Education City at Kundli in Sonipat
- Barhi Industrial Area
- Panipat
- IOCL refinery
- Karnal
The corridor could therefore serve a mix of students, industrial workers and daily commuters travelling between these centres and Delhi.
Delhi-Bawal Namo Bharat Corridor: Journey Targeted at 67 Minutes
The second proposed corridor, Delhi-Gurugram-Bawal, is expected to cut travel time between Delhi and Bawal from around 180 minutes to approximately 67 minutes. The route will connect major employment and industrial centres such as:
- Gurugram
- Manesar
- Manesar-Bawal Investment Region (MBIR)
- Bawal
The corridor is also expected to connect with the Namo Bharat network serving Delhi Airport, improving access between the airport, Gurugram and the industrial belt towards Bawal.
Cabinet approval awaited
Both corridors are at an advanced stage of the approval process, according to NCRTC. While the Centre’s Cabinet approval is awaited, NCRTC has started preparatory activities at proposed project locations. These include:
- Geotechnical investigations
- Utility mapping
- Identification and shifting of utilities
- Modification of extra-high-tension (EHT) power lines
- Shifting or modification of water pipelines
Starting these activities before the final approval could help reduce the time needed to begin major construction once the projects receive the go-ahead.
Proposed Namo Bharat corridors
| Corridors | Key Connections | Proposed Travel Time |
| Delhi-Panipat-Karnal | Delhi-Karnal | 90 minutes |
| Delhi-Gurugram-Bawal | Delhi-Bawal | 60 minutes |
The projects are being planned as part of regional NCR’s wider regional rapid transit network. The first Namo Bharat corridor between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut has already established the model for faster regional journeys.
Focus on regional growth
NCRTC sees the proposed corridors as more than faster transport links. The organisation expects improved regional connectivity to spread economic activity beyond Delhi and support the growth of emerging urban centres.
Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) around Namo Bharat stations could also encourage mixed-use development close to transit nodes. This could bring housing, offices, commercial activity and other services closer to stations. The projects are also expected to generate employment during construction and later during operations and maintenance.
