NAMO Bharat: India’s First Regional Rapid Transit System

For decades, India built city metros. In 2023, it built something new: a train fast enough to make two different cities feel like one commute.

Must Know

• NAMO Bharat is the brand name for India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). It’s a semi-high-speed regional rail network, distinct from a city metro.
• Its first corridor connects Delhi, Ghaziabad, and Meerut. It spans 82.15 km, with 25 stations.
• Construction began in March 2019. The first section, Sahibabad to Duhai, opened on 20 October 2023.
• The full corridor became fully operational on 22 February 2026.
• Trains run at up to 180 km/h design speed. This cuts the Delhi-Meerut journey to around 45 minutes.

Good to Know

• The implementing agency is NCRTC (National Capital Region Transport Corporation), incorporated on 21 August 2013.
• NCRTC is a joint Centre-state company. The Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs and the Ministry of Railways each hold 22.5%. Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh each hold 12.5%.
• The Delhi-Meerut corridor is the only completed project, among eight corridors originally identified by the NCR Planning Board.
• RRTS is meant to sit between a city metro and long-distance rail. It’s faster and makes fewer stops than a metro, but shorter-range and more frequent than an intercity train.
• The network also carries the local Meerut Metro section, running on the same RRTS tracks within Meerut city.

Test Yourself

Great to Know

• NAMO Bharat is a new tier of railway investment, distinct from station-level upgrades. Compare it with IndGeo0115 — Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, which modernises existing Indian Railways stations rather than building new dedicated corridors.
• The RRTS naming convention deliberately avoids calling these lines “metros.” It signals that they serve inter-city regional travel, not just travel within a single city.

Current Affairs

• 6 August 2026: In a written Lok Sabha reply, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs shared fresh ridership data. The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor has now carried over 3.8 crore commuters since going fully operational in February 2026, with punctuality above 99%. (Source: PIB)
• 6 August 2026: The same reply confirmed multi-modal integration on the corridor. It now connects with 3 metro lines, 2 railway stations, and 4 bus terminals. NCRTC has also installed 7.8 MWp of rooftop solar capacity across the corridor. (Source: PIB)
• 6 August 2026: On fares, NCRTC confirmed a 35% discount on the base fare for all commuters. It has also introduced loyalty points, earned through regular travel, which can be redeemed for further discounts. (Source: PIB)
• 27 July 2026: Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu told the Rajya Sabha that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) are ready for four new corridors. These are Delhi-Karnal, Delhi-Bawal, Bawal-Behror, and Ghaziabad-Noida International Airport. (Source: ThePrint)
• All four proposals are under the Centre’s detailed technical and financial appraisal, before any funding decision is taken. (Source: ThePrint)
• Separately, the Public Investment Board has cleared two more corridors, Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal and Sarai Kale Khan-Karnal, worth a combined ₹65,000 crore, for the Union Cabinet’s consideration. (Source: Metro Rail Today)