Rapid Fire
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and Meerut Metro
- 23 Feb 2026
- 2 min read
The Indian Prime Minister inaugurated both the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and the Meerut Metro from a single platform, marking the first time in India that a rapid rail and metro service were launched together on the same day.
- Meerut Metro, connecting Meerut South and Modipuram, is India’s fastest metro with speeds up to 120 km/h, operating on Namo Bharat infrastructure in a first-of-its-kind project.
Namo Bharat Rapid Rail
- About: It is India's inaugural Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), a dedicated semi-high-speed commuter rail network designed to revolutionize connectivity across the National Capital Region (NCR).
- It supports a maximum design speed of 180 km/h, with operational speeds reaching up to 160 km/h and average speeds around 100 km/h.
- Primary Objective: The system aims to alleviate congestion on conventional rail and road networks by providing a modern, high-frequency alternative for commuters traveling distances of 100-200 km.
- Distinction from Other Systems:
- Vs. Metro: Unlike metros for intra-city travel with frequent stops, RRTS focuses on regional connectivity with fewer halts and higher speeds.
- Vs. Vande Bharat: It differs from longer-distance inter-city trains like Vande Bharat Express by catering to shorter, regional inter-city routes with higher frequency.
- Flagship Corridor: The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS spans approximately 82 km. Full operations along this route were inaugurated in February, 2026.
| Read More: Multimodal Transport Hub |
