In her Interim Budget speech on February 1, 2024, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman outlined the Centre’s vision for Metro Rail and NaMo Bharat trains. But did not specifically mention any funding for the sane. However, she emphasized that these transit systems could be key to driving urban transformation in the country. Highlighting the importance of these projects in improving urban transportation and infrastructure, Sitharaman revealed that the government plans to extend these trains in big cities. Last fiscal year, Rs 19,518 crore was allocated for Metro projects, and going by the extensive plans, the figure should increase this year to support the government’s vision.
Vision for NaMo Bharat
The Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) trains are known as the NaMo Bharat trains. The RRTS network provides top-notch commuter transit services that are safe and fast, with trains running at 160 km/h and every 15 minutes initially. Non-stop journeys can cover 100 km in 45-50 minutes. The project also offers quality last-mile connectivity, catering to all types of travelers. It is designed to integrate smoothly with Indian Railways, Inter-State Bus Terminals (ISBTs), Airports, and the Delhi Metro.
The first NaMo Bharat train was flagged off from Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Oct 20, 2023. It is operational on the 17-km-long priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail corridor. The corridor is being developed under RRTS Phase 1 and is targeted to be completed by June 2025. In fact, the NCRTC plans to conduct the first trial run of the Namo Bharat regional rail in Delhi by the end of this year. As per the latest media reports, the civil construction of the viaduct in Delhi is almost finished, with ongoing work at the station premises. The Delhi stretch includes New Ashok Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, and Anand Vihar RRTS stations.
If the Centre plans to meet the targeted June 2025 deadline, and also, with more RRTS trains anticipated to be introduced this year, Sitharaman is expected to allocate huge chunk of money specifically for this purpose.
Currently, three RRTS corridors are planned for the first phase in the National Capital Region. These include the 82-km Delhi-Meerut corridor, the 103-km Delhi-Panipat corridor, and the 198-km Delhi-Gurugram-SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror Urban Complex)-Alwar corridor.
Metro Rail Expansion
After Sitharaman‘s Interim Budget 2024 announcement of expanding India’s metro rail network to big cities, the then Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri, had predicted that our metro network is set to become the second largest in the world, surpassing that of the United States within the next two to three years.
Let’s look at the statistics. Before 2014, only 248 km of Metro Rail was operational in five cities. Over the past decade, an additional 697 km has been added to the Metro Rail Network nationwide. By 2024, there are about 945 km of metro rail lines that are operational across 21 cities, with another 919 km under construction in 26 cities.
With proper budgetary allocation, the forthcoming metro rail expansion will aim to provide efficient, reliable, and sustainable transit options for millions of urban commuters, ultimately transforming the urban transit landscape and addressing the growing demand for public transportation in densely populated cities. As India continues to invest in and expand its metro network, it is poised to become a global leader in urban transit systems.
