Sahibabad: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated the 17-km priority section of the country's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor and called it a historic moment for the entire nation on the auspicious occasion of Navratri. "This is a historic moment for the entire country. Today, India's first Rapid Rail services - Namo Bharat train - have begun and are being dedicated to the nation," the PM said while addressing a huge gathering here. Hailing the NaMo Bharat train, PM Modi said that it has "modernity, rapidity and amazing speed." "This Namo Bharat train is defining the new journey and new resolves of New India," he added.


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PM went on to say, "When this Meerut stretch completes after a year or a year and a half, I will be there at your service." Taking a dig at the previous Congress-led UPA regime, PM Modi said, "Four years back, I laid the foundation stone of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Regional Corridor project. Today, the services of Namo Bharat have started on the stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot. I had said earlier too and I say it today as well - Jiska shilanyaas hum karte hain, uska udghatan bhi hum hi karte hain."


 



 


PM Modi further stated that the NaMo Bharat train is a symbol of 'women empowerment in the country.' "On this new train (Namo Bharat), from the driver to the entire crew - they are all women. This is the symbol of growing women empowerment in India," the PM said amid huge applause from the audience.


Interestingly, the PM also took a ride in a 'Namo Bharat' train running on the stretch. "I had the opportunity to experience travel on this ultra-modern train (Namo Bharat). I spent my childhood on the railway platform and today this new form of the railways is filling me with joy. This experience is delightful. We have the tradition of performing auspicious works during Navratri. India's first Namo Bharat train has received the blessings of Maa Katyayani today," the PM said.


 



 


Interestingly, the PM also took a ride in a 'Namo Bharat' train running on the stretch. PM Modi showed the green flag to the train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the launch of the RRTS in India. The train can run at a speed of 180 km per hour. 


 



 


The Prime Minister was also seen interacting with the passengers, school students and the crew of the train.


 



 


The inauguration ceremony took place at Sahibabad station of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, which once fully completed, will reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to a little less than an hour. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri were present at the ceremony.


India's first semi-high-speed regional rail service, whose trains are equipped with hi-tech features and a number of passenger amenities, will be opened for passengers from October 21. The services will begin at 6 am and run till 11 pm, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) officials earlier said.


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 a spur from the main corridor.


The under-construction RRTS corridor, being built for the semi-high-speed regional rail service by the NCRTC, is a joint venture company of the Centre with the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.


The NCRTC has been tasked to oversee the construction of India's first RRTS, between Delhi and Meerut. The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025.