The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is likely to conduct the first trial run of the Namo Bharat regional rail in the Delhi section by the year’s end. According to a news report in Hindustan Times, the civil construction of the viaduct in Delhi is nearing completion, with ongoing work at the station premises.
The inauguration of the Delhi section of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) is scheduled for mid-2025. This 14-km-long section, encompassing Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, and Anand Vihar RRTS stations, is progressing rapidly.
The report quoted Puneet Vats, Chief Public Relations Officer of NCRTC saying that “the construction of the RRTS viaduct in the Delhi section of the Delhi-Meerut corridor is almost complete. The trial runs are likely to be started in Delhi by the end of this year. The RRTS stations – Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, and Anand Vihar (underground) in Delhi – have already taken shape and finishing work is underway.”
When are trail runs conducted?
Trial runs are conducted post-completion of signalling and telecommunication work, marking readiness for operational service. Following these trials, NCRTC will apply for a safety certificate from the Commission of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS), which conducts multiple inspections before granting certification. Officials affirmed that once CMRS certification is secured, the RRTS can be inaugurated as per the government’s scheduled time.
Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station
The Delhi section comprises a 9 km elevated stretch and a 5 km underground stretch.According to the HT report, the viaduct work for the elevated portion is finished up to Sarai Kale Khan station, with ongoing activities including track laying and installation of overhead electrification (OHE). The Sarai Kale Khan station, serving as the interchange point for the initial three RRTS lines, is currently in an advanced stage of construction, with ongoing roof and finishing work.
“This station is designed for seamless integration with other transport modes, including a bus stand, railway station, and Metro station, allowing passengers to switch between these modes without exiting the station. It has four tracks and six platforms, two of which are floating platforms, on the same level for all three RRTS lines,” said an NCRTC official.
The Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station will feature connections to the Veer Haqiqat Rai ISBT via an entry/exit gate and a dedicated footbridge, and to the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station through a foot-over bridge (FOB) travelator. Moreover, the station will be linked to the Delhi Metro Pink Line, a city bus stop, and will have an exit opening onto the Ring Road.
New Ashok Nagar RRTS station
At the New Ashok Nagar station, located adjacent to the existing Ashok Nagar metro station, the track laying has been finished, and final roofing touches are underway. This station is set to cater to residents of New Ashok Nagar and Noida, providing connectivity towards Meerut.
“Construction at the Anand Vihar underground station is progressing rapidly, providing multi-modal integration with Delhi Metro, interstate bus services, Swami Vivekananda (Anand Vihar) interstate bus stand, city bus stand, Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus stand at Kaushambi, and two Metro corridors (Pink and Blue lines), along with Anand Vihar railway station,” the official informed.
Namo Bharat train services
Currently, the Namo Bharat train services run across eight stations covering a 34km route from Sahibabad to Modi Nagar North along the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. Officials have indicated that the Meerut South RRTS station is nearing completion and is expected to be operational by the end of the year. This development will expand the operational length of the RRTS corridor to 42km, according to officials.