The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a loan of approximately Rs 2,600 crore, constituting the final tranche of funding for the Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). This 82-kilometer project is being developed at a total cost exceeding Rs 30,000 crore.
Currently, a 55-kilometer section of the corridor is operational, featuring 11 stations that connect New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Meerut South. Trial runs and final civil and systems works are progressing on the remaining 4.5-kilometer stretch in Delhi (between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar) and the 23-kilometer section in Meerut (between Meerut South and Modipuram). The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has completed a successful timetable trial run of Namo Bharat trains across the entire 82-kilometer corridor. The system is projected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut from over three hours to approximately one hour.
Mio Oka, ADB Country Director for India, stated that the project marks a “transformative step” in India’s urban transport landscape, expected to enhance mobility, promote inclusive growth, and support environmental sustainability. The Delhi-Meerut line is the first of several RRTS lines planned for the National Capital Region.
Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-meerut-rrts-adb-nod-rs-2-600-crore-loan-10283331/