PM Modi to Launch Full 82-Km Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat RRTS on February 22

Sonal Chikara

The long wait for commuters travelling to Noida or Delhi from Meerut will finally be over when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurates the Namo Bharat Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor on Sunday, February 22, 2026. This is India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System, featuring high-speed (160 km/h) trains that will connect Delhi and Meerut within an hour.

The new corridor segment will complete the Meerut arm of the Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor. At present, out of the 82 km corridor, trains operate on a 55 km stretch between New Ashok Nagar and Meerut South. After the inauguration, trains will run on the entire corridor, from Sarai Kale Khan (the largest station on the Delhi–Meerut stretch) to Modipuram in Meerut, covering key stations including New Ashok Nagar in East Delhi and Meerut South.

Once the full route becomes operational, trains are expected to cover the 82 km distance in about 55 minutes.

“The new RRTS extension will completely change my daily commute. Earlier, I had to travel nearly 18 km to reach the Meerut South station, changing two autos and spending ₹80–90 every day,” says Keshav Maurya, a resident of Meerut Cantt and a working professional in New Delhi.

He adds, “The biggest advantage will be that I can continue living in my hometown while commuting comfortably to the office every day.” Another resident of Saket, Meerut, Shivansh Sonker, says, “Now, Begumpul will be my nearest RRTS station, and it is within walking distance, which will save a lot of time and effort.”

Varnika Patel, a final-year college student in Meerut, says, “Previously, it used to take me 45–50 minutes to reach the Meerut South station, and during peak hours, it would take even longer. Now, commuting from Meerut to Delhi will become much easier, safer, and traffic-free.”

The corridor, which has now become fully functional, was made operational in phases. The first stretch, between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, was inaugurated in October 2023. This was followed by the Duhai Depot–Modinagar North section in March 2024, the Modinagar North–Meerut South stretch in August 2024, and most recently, the Sahibabad–New Ashok Nagar section in January 2025.

Comfort Comes at a Cost

For working professionals, while time is a priority, affordability remains an equally important factor.

Although the Namo Bharat service promises faster travel and a more comfortable ride, ticket prices continue to be a point of contention among commuters. A standard-class ticket from New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Meerut South is priced at ₹150, while the premium-class fare goes up to ₹225. From Anand Vihar to Meerut South, passengers pay ₹130 for standard class and ₹195 for premium class. In contrast, a UP Roadways bus from Anand Vihar to Meerut costs around ₹70.

“The fare feels slightly expensive at the moment, but I hope that with travel cards and future benefits, it will become more economical, just like the Delhi Metro,” says Shivansh, a resident of Meerut.

What to Know: Delhi–Meerut RRTS

Timing: Weekdays/Saturdays — 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM

             Sundays: 8:00 AM — 10:00 PM 

Frequency: Trains will operate at intervals of 5–10 minutes during peak hours and 10–15 minutes during non-peak hours. 

Speed: The Meerut Metro runs at 120 km/h, with a maximum speed of 135 km/h. 

Access: Commuters will be able to use both Namo Bharat and the Meerut Metro with a single ticket.