Big Budget 2019 boost for Delhi-NCR: Centre gives Rs 1,000 crore for semi-high speed RRTS rail project

Budget 2019 has not only brought cheer for middle-class taxpayers and farmers but also for the people of Delhi-NCR. In a major boost to the regional connectivity in the region, the government has allocated Rs 1000 crore to the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in the interim budget presented today by the Finance Minister Piyush Goyal.

It's notable that National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), mandated for implementing the RRTS project, has recently started the Initial Pile Load Test for its upcoming civil structure on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor. Pre-construction activities such as Geo-technical investigation, Road Widening work, Utility diversion are already in advance stages. 

"The 82 km long Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut RRTS corridor will be immensely beneficial in curbing pollution in the region. The high-speed rail will promise to cover the distance between Meerut and New Delhi in less than 60 minutes. It is a new, dedicated, high speed, high capacity, comfortable commuter service connecting regional nodes of NCR to Delhi that will create opportunities and will decongest Delhi effectively," it said in a statement. 

RRTS trains with the design speed of 180kmph will have operational speed of 160kmph and average speed of 100kmph. The trains will be available at a frequency of every 5-10 minutes. These trains will be air-conditioned with transverse seating and overhead luggage space for commuter comfort. There would be priority seating arrangements for people with special needs, an exclusive coach for women travelers and a business class coach in every train to encourage people to leave their cars for public transport.

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Out of the 8 identified corridors to connect various NCR towns with high-speed rail commute under the Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032, three have been prioritized for implementation in Phase-1 by the Planning Commission appointed Task Force, these are Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Gurugram-Alwar and Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat. The RRTS corridor is expected to connect Delhi to Meerut in just 60 minutes.