Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot on Friday. With the train service operational, the travel time between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot will be 12 minutes, which would usually take around 30-35 minutes by road.
Last week, News18 reported that the priority section of RRTS will become operational this month. Once operational, this will be the first RRTS train service in India.
What is RRTS?
A new, dedicated, high-speed, high-capacity, commuter service, the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is different from both conventional railways as well as Metros.
It is better than conventional railways as it provides reliable, high-frequency, point-to-point regional travel.
It is different from Metros as it caters to passengers who are looking to travel a comparatively longer distance with fewer stops and at a higher speed.
How will it change travel experience?
Offering comfortable seats and air conditioning, the priority section of RRTS is going to uplift travel in Ghaziabad.
Otherwise, the options so far for the commuters were public autorickshaws and buses, or private buses or taxis, amid the hot and humid weather clubbed with traffic.
The RRTS trains were designed for 180 kmph and have been tested for an operating speed of 160 kmph. However, its average speed is going to be 100 kmph. In June, the Railway Board approved that RRTS can operate at a maximum speed of 160 kmph on the priority corridor.
The 17-kilometre distance between the two stoppages takes around 30-35 minutes by road, which can be covered in just 12 minutes with RRTS, an official told News18.
There are five stations in the 17-km priority section — Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot.
Built at a height of 26 metres, Ghaziabad station will be the highest among the stations on the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
The new service will also ease the journey for those who travel every day to and from Delhi.
The Ghaziabad station is seamlessly integrated with the Shaheed Sthal Metro station, on the Red Line of Delhi Metro, to enable commuters to comfortably move from one mode to another. A similar arrangement is being done across the entire stretch wherever there is a nearby Metro.
The Sahibabad RRTS station is just 4 km away from the Vaishali Metro Station situated on the Blue line of the Delhi Metro.
Once fully operational, there will be a station of RRTS in Vaishali that will be connected with the Vaishali Metro Station.
While designing the plan, the NCRTC ensured that the commuters get all the comfort they need, also making it accessible for all – with large lifts and designated space for wheelchairs and stretchers inside the train.
Further, to ensure a reliable mobile network for the commuters of the train, NCRTC last month invited tenders for mobile coverage solution providers. This will ensure that the commuters get a mobile network within the tunnels that connect underground stations on the RRTS corridor.
Also, once the entire stretch is functional, the RRTS will give the comfort of a Metro train, with service distance of conventional Railways.
The 82-km Delhi-Meerut section is likely to be completed by 2025 at a cost of Rs 30,000 crore.
All preparations done
In the last 6 months, trains have been run on this system in the same manner as they will be run after operations. Moreover, every dimension of this system is being examined closely, as per the NCRTC.
Even before the inauguration, a dedicated Lost and Found Centre has been established at the Ghaziabad RRTS station to expedite the retrieval of misplaced belongings.
The dedicated Lost and Found Centre at the Ghaziabad station will operate from 8 am to 8 pm daily, making it more convenient for passengers to recover their belongings.
Further, NCRTC has taken a purposeful step towards breaking established gender norms in the transport sector by ensuring equal participation of women, which has traditionally been considered male-dominated.
“Women are going to play a key role in the operations of these modern, high-speed, high-frequency RAPIDX train services. It is noteworthy that the participation of women employees in the operations of this section will be more than that of male employees,” the NCRTC said.
Among the train operators appointed to operate RAPIDX trains in the priority section, the number of female operators is more than male operators. Apart from this, women are also playing a crucial role in other areas like station control, station management, operation and maintenance, operation control centre, train attendants, and customer care.
What’s next?
After the Sahibabad and Duhai Depot sections, the second stretch that will be operational will be between Duhai and Meerut. The stretch in Delhi is likely to take some time.
The RRTS project aims to decongest the National Capital Region (NCR) and ease the journey. The rapid rail system will help in curbing vehicular traffic menace, and air pollution and will ensure balanced regional development in satellite cities across Delhi.
The idea of an integrated commuter railway network to connect the NCR and Delhi was mooted way back in 1998-99 in an Indian Railways-commissioned study.
The ultimate plan is to connect other cities including Panipat, Gurugram, Alwar, Faridabad, Palwal, Khurja, Bahadurgarh, Rohtak, and Hapur with Delhi through RRTS.
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