PM Modi to Flag Off 'Namo Bharat,' India's First Regional Rapid Train Service, in Ghaziabad Today

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to inaugurate the first corridor of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in Uttar Pradesh's Sahibabad on Friday. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) announced on Wednesday that he will flag off a RapidX train connecting Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the launch of India's RRTS, a transformational regional development initiative. This system aims to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting every 15 minutes, with the flexibility to increase the frequency to every five minutes according to demand.

RRTS Renamed 'Namo Bharat'

The RRTS trains to be inaugurated by PM Modi will be known as 'Namo Bharat,' as revealed by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Thursday. In addition to the RRTS inauguration, PM Modi will address a public rally to commemorate the occasion and later inaugurate two stretches of the east-west corridor of the Bengaluru Metro.

करोड़ो लोगों की आकांक्षाओं से जुड़े #RRTS प्रोजेक्ट के प्रायोरिटी कॉरिडोर पटरी पर रफ्तार भरने के लिए तैयार है।

PM श्री @narendramodi जी कल यानि 20 अक्टूबर को इसे राष्ट्र को समर्पित करेंगे।

देश के इस रीजनल रैपिड ट्रांजिट सिस्टम को #NaMoBharat के नाम से जाना जाएगा।@officialncrtc pic.twitter.com/C5xmbZexnI — Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 19, 2023

Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Corridor

 The 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is scheduled to open for passengers on October 21, a day after its inauguration. This section includes five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai, and Duhai Depot.

Safety Features

 Notably, the trains on this corridor are equipped with safety features like CCTV cameras, an emergency door-opening mechanism, and a button for communication with the train operator.

Impressive Speed

While these trains can reach speeds of up to 160 mph, officials anticipate that the operational speed will be somewhat lower.

Cost & Connectivity

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor is being developed at a cost exceeding Rs 30,000 crore and will efficiently connect Delhi to Meerut in under an hour, passing through urban centres of Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar, according to the PMO.

Traffic Advisory

The Ghaziabad Traffic Police have issued a traffic advisory due to the launch of RRTS by PM Modi. Certain restrictions will be in place from 7 AM on Friday until the program concludes.

Traffic Advisory - pic.twitter.com/KnZk4D4jfL — POLICE COMMISSIONERATE GHAZIABAD (@ghaziabadpolice) October 18, 2023

Congress Targets PM Modi

In response to the naming of RRTS trains as 'Namo Bharat,' the Congress criticized PM Modi, calling it an expression of his self-obsession.

After Namo stadium now Namo trains. There is simply no limit to his self-obsession. https://t.co/tEt6zU8h5e

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) October 19, 2023

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera both made comments highlighting this issue. This inauguration marks a significant milestone in India's transportation infrastructure, and the naming of the trains has stirred some controversy in political circles.