Pmtoflagoffrrts: Howthislatestmasstransportsystemcanbenefitncr

Primeministernarendramodiwillinaugurate the first leg of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), India’s first mass rapidsystemdedicatedtoregionalconnectivity, onfriday. Capableofrunningatspeeds upto180km/hour, trainsonthefirstsection will eventually cutthetraveltime between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour.

What is the RRTS project?

Withsemihigh-speedrail connectivity at its core, the RRTS is an integrated, mass transit network which aims to ensure “balanced and sustainableurbandevelopment” throughbetterconnectivityandaccessacrossthencr.

Theideaof suchanetworkliesinastudy which the Indian Railways was commissioned to carry out in 1998-99. The study identifiedthepossibilityofanrrtsnetwork to connect various locations in the NCR through fast commuter trains. The proposal wasre-examinedin2006, withtheextension of the Delhi Metro lines to some NCR towns suchasgurgaon, Noida, andghaziabad.

It was soon taken up by the National

Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB), which identified and recommended eight RRTS corridors to connect NCR towns. For detailsofthecompleteprojectbeingimplemented, see graphic.

Who built the Namo Bharat, which PM Modi will inaugurate?

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation(ncrtc), ajointventureof the Centre and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, has built the RRTS also known Namo Bharat.

How is the RRTS different from metro, railways?

Compared with metros, the RRTS network is faster. It will cater to commuters who want to travel relatively longer distances acrossthencrinashortertime. Compared with the Indian Railways, though THERRTS train will cover smaller distances, it will do so at higher frequency and provide more comfort than the average Railways coach.

What is the objective behind RRTS?

Therrtsseeksto“unlocktheentirepotential” ofthencrinadditiontoenhancing multi-modal connectivity. One of the most significant aims of the project is to nudge commuters towards public transportation and relieve congestion on its roads as well as metro and railway networks.

In terms of the economy, the project aims to give a push to employment generation and the opening up of newer commercialhubsalongthecurrentcontoursof the NCR. Shorter travel times are expected toincreasetheoveralleconomicproductivity of the region and allow more economic activity in and around suburban locations in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana.

How fast will it run?

RRTS trains will operate at 160 km/hour butaredesignedtobeabletorunatspeedsup to180km/hour. Delhimetrotrainscanoperateat100km/hourto120km/hour, depending on the line. The fastest line, the Airport Expressline, operatesat120km/hour.

By when will the entire project be operational?

PM Modi will inaugurate a 17-km stretch classified as the 'priority section' of the 82-km Delhi-ghaziabad-meerut RRTS corridor, whichhas16stations. Ofthese, the priority section has five: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. Theentirecorridorisexpectedtobe operational by 2025. 2.

Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar Corridor 7.

Panipat

Haryana Sub-region

Ghaziabad-hapur

Meerut

Praveen Khanna