‘UP set to be India’s first state to get rapid rail’
Work on DelhiMeerut route to begin soon. Distance of 82 km between the cities will be covered in less than 60 minutes, says official
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh is all set to become India’s first state to get rapid rail in the first phase of implementation of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), said Durga Shanker Mishra, secretary, ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA).
“Work will soon begin on the Delhi-Meerut route of RRTS after the meeting scheduled with PIB on September 11. The total length of Delhi-Meerut rapid rail will be 82 km, which will be covered in less than 60 minutes. The line will have 16 stations. Each station will become a centre of urban growth,” he said while speaking on the sidelines of Lucknow Metro Diwas at Lucknow Metro Depot on Wednesday.
“Rapid rail will boost regional connectivity thus helping thousands of people commuting from Meerut and nearby areas to Delhi for employment. The first line of RRTS will be implemented between Delhi and Meerut,” said Mishra.
He said regional rapid rails were common in other countries but in India it will be implemented soon starting from Uttar Pradesh. “RRTS is going to play a very important role in boosting the economy and development of UP,” he emphasised.
While Metro rail projects generally served the need of intracity movement and operated within metropolitan cities like Delhi, Chennai, Kochi, etc, RRTS will connect suburban and urban centres and run right from one city centre to another.