‘Namo Bharat’ trains are equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities.
Sahibabad, UP:
Services on a priority section of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor began on Saturday and the number of passengers is expected to cross the 10,000 mark on day one, a senior NCRTC official said.
The much-awaited start of commercial operations on the 17-km stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor began amid excitement among passengers.
The inaugural ‘Namo Bharat’ train journey started at 6 am and the services received an “overwhelming response” from commuters, some of whom had arrived as early as 4.30 am, who were keen to be part of this historic journey, even up close . areas like Muradnagar and from far-flung areas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, a senior NCRTC official said.
National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Managing Director Vinay Kumar Singh also took a ride on the inauguration day of the ‘Namo Bharat’ train services.
He welcomed the first batch of passengers of India’s first ‘Namo Bharat’ train in the morning and also interacted with them on platforms and in coaches, officials said.
The first group of passengers has also been recognized as the ‘First Rider’ and a certificate has been issued, they said.
‘Namo Bharat’ trains are equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated this section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor by unveiling a plaque at the Sahibabad station and also took a ride on a train.
Passenger services will continue till 11pm and as October 21 is a weekend, the numbers are expected to increase further till the end of revenue services, officials said.
The train crew of ‘Namo Bharat’ is expected to “easily cross the 10,000 mark on the very first day of services, as per the latest update”, the NCRTC said in a statement this evening.
Since the morning, the passengers were excited and some of them even danced in the aisles in the coaches, expressing their sheer joy and excitement at being the riders of India’s first ‘Namo Bharat’ train. Families and friends had also gathered, clicking pictures, taking selfies and shooting videos, all eager to be part of this historic moment, the NCRTC officials said.
India’s first regional semi-high-speed railway aims to redefine travel in the region with high speed and the latest technology.
The RRTS is a new, semi-rapid, high-frequency rail commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 km/h and an operational speed potential of 160 km/h.
The priority section, between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, has five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The segment from Duhai to Duhai Depot is an offshoot of the main corridor.
Travelers from all walks of life, including women, senior citizens and children, were among the first group of passengers, the NCRTC said.
“More crowds were seen at Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, and in addition to those who came just to experience the ride, many office goers were among the passengers on day one. A family came with many of their members, old and young, all made their way from Delhi’s Kailash Colony to take a ride from Sahibabad station,” said a senior official of the NCRTC.
The NCRTC has been tasked with overseeing the construction of India’s first RRTS, between Delhi and Meerut.
The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is expected to be operational by June 2025.
Each ‘Namo Bharat’ train has six coaches, including a premium coach. In each train, one carriage is reserved for women and this is the carriage next to the premium carriage.
There are also reserved seats for women, specially handicapped persons and senior citizens in other coaches.
Premium coaches have a different colour-coded seat, provision for installing a vending machine in the future, in addition to a host of additional commuting-centric features such as reclining seats, coat hooks, magazine holders and footrests.
Access to the premium class coach is possible via an enclosed premium lounge on platforms. Each lounge has cushioned chairs and a vending machine.
People can commute between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations on this line in about 12 minutes, officials said.
A one-way ticket from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot station on the priority section of this RRTS corridor will cost Rs 50, while the fare for the same route will be Rs 100 in a first class coach.
To provide last-mile connectivity to passengers, the NCRTC has ensured availability of electric autorickshaws under RRTS feeder services, by connecting service provider stations, the statement said.
The DTC has also started electric AC bus service from Anand Vihar to Sahibabad station with a frequency of 20 minutes. As per the schedule, the first AC electric bus will depart from Anand Vihar ISBT at 6:20 AM, while the last one will depart at 9:35 PM. From Sahibabad, it will be available from 7:05 am to 10:20 pm, it added.
More than 2,000 downloads of the RRTS Connect app took place on the first day of passenger flights on the priority section of India’s first RRTS corridor, the NCRTC said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
