YEAR ENDER
NCRTC Marks a Year of Milestones, Celebrating Progress and Achievements of the Namo Bharat Corridor
Meeerut-The year 2024 has marked a period of remarkable growth, development, and expansion for the Namo Bharat Corridor. This momentum has continued seamlessly into the final days of the year, with an additional 13 km stretch of the Delhi Section of the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor set to become operational, offering enhanced connectivity for the people. With this expansion, the currently operational section of the Namo-Bharat corridor will now increase from 42 km to 55 km with 11 stations.
From 17 km to 42 km operational section
On 20th October 2023, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated India’s first Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor, dedicating the 17 km Priority Section (between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot) to the nation and flagging off the first Namo Bharat trains. This milestone set the stage for a promising start to 2024 for the commuters in this region. On 6th March 2024, an additional 17 km section up to Modi Nagar North was opened, which was further extended to Meerut South on 18th August 2024, marking an operational expansion of another 8 km of the corridor.
50 Lakh Commuters
The Namo Bharat services, known for their speed, reliability, and comfort, quickly became a favorite among commuters. To date, over 50 lakh commuters have travelled on Namo Bharat trains, marking their trust and further solidifying its position as an essential transportation solution for the region.
Construction in Full Swing
Construction of the remaining corridor sections is progressing swiftly. Civil work on the rest 5 km stretches between New Ashok Nagar to Sarai Kale Khan and 23 km stretch from Meerut South to Modipuram is nearing completion, with track laying work and OHE installation is currently in progress. NCRTC is on track to operationalize the entire corridor by the scheduled deadline in 2025.
Commuter Centricity
Commuter-centricity has been a core principle of the Namo Bharat project, prompting NCRTC to implement several initiatives aimed at ensuring a seamless and comfortable journey for commuters. To encourage a modal shift in favour of the public transport, parking facilities for over 8,000 vehicles have been provided at stations along the corridor.
Additionally, NCRTC has partnered with various mobility partners to provide a range of last-mile connectivity options, including rental two-wheelers, bicycles, and feeder buses, cabs, and autorickshaws at all Namo Bharat stations from Delhi to Meerut. Some of them are even providing discounts to the commuters traveling from Namo Bharat stations.
Namo Bharat NCMC card
Further enhancing the digital ticketing experience, NCRTC has partnered with Airtel Payments Bank to offer Namo Bharat NCMC travel cards, debit cards, and prepaid cards at all operational Namo Bharat stations. These cards enable passengers to travel seamlessly across the country on all transport modes and also make payments for shopping and other facilities.
MoU with DMRC and IRCTC
NCRTC signed key agreements to enhance ticketing for Namo Bharat passengers. An MOU with DMRC introduced integrated QR-ticketing, allowing simultaneous bookings for Namo Bharat and Delhi Metro via their respective apps. Another MOU with IRCTC enables passengers to book Namo Bharat tickets as an add-on when purchasing Indian Railways tickets through the IRCTC platform.
Namo Bharat App
Commuters have shown great enthusiasm in using the ‘Namo Bharat’ app (earlier known as RRTS Connect App), taking full advantage of the 10% discounts being offered for commuters. The app has introduced several new features to further improving the convenience and comfort of commuters’ journeys such as live train tracking, real-time parking availability, last-mile connectivity options, station facilities, station navigation, and a lost-and-found service, among others.
Emphasis on Green Power
Sustainability is one of the core values of NCRTC, and this year, the organization made notable progress in this area. Committed to renewable energy, NCRTC is installing solar power plants at all stations, depots, and buildings, achieving 4MW of its targeted 11MW energy production. In line with its sustainability goals, NCRTC partnered with Power Trading Corporation (PTC) India to get low-cost energy for Namo Bharat corridor.
Net Zero Stations
NCRTC’s efforts were also recognized when it was awarded the esteemed IGBC Net-Zero Energy (Operations) rating for the platinum-rated Sahibabad and Guldhar stations. This recognition, presented at the Green Building Congress 2024 organized by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) in Bangalore, marks the first time ever that any station in the country has been awarded the Net Zero Energy (Operations) rating. Each of the two stations boasts a solar capacity of 729 kWp, contributing to an annual reduction of 750 tonnes in CO2 emissions. With annual savings of Rs. 33 lakhs per station, the total savings over a 25-year lifespan amounts to Rs. 8.3 crore per station.
Dignitaries Visit
To witness the state-of-the-art infrastructure and experience the world-class services of Namo Bharat, numerous influential figures have visited the corridor. These include the Hon’ble Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Power, Shri Manohar Lal; His Excellency Dr. Philipp Ackermann, the German Ambassador; the Hon’ble Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs, Shri Tokhan Sahu; as well as delegates from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the World Bank, and several other dignitaries. They have commended the services being provided and seamless multimodal integration planned at various stations.
Showcasing the project to the public
Throughout the year, NCRTC actively engaged in various conferences and expos, presenting the Namo Bharat Project to industry professionals and peers. At the 17th Urban Mobility Conference & Expo, NCRTC showcased the transformative features of India’s first Namo Bharat corridor, emphasizing advanced technologies, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and commuter-focused train features. Additionally, NCRTC co-hosted the UITP Transport Economics and Finance Committee (TEFC) meeting in New Delhi, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange in the transport sector.
Received many Awards
NCRTC's efforts were widely acclaimed, earning the organization numerous prestigious awards and accolades throughout the year. At the UIC Sustainability Impact Awards 2024 in Berlin, NCRTC secured the Best Transit Award for Seamless Connectivity and was declared the Overall Winner, surpassing 17 finalist projects from 15 countries. Additionally, on August 2, 2024, NCRTC was honored with the 14th Platinum Global Sustainability Award 2024 at the 15th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress in New Delhi. This recognition celebrated the Namo Bharat Project’s remarkable contribution to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable solutions for a greener economy.
Empowering local communities
NCRTC has launched distribution drive of assistive aids to differently-abled individuals residing nearby Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor aims to enhance their mobility, accessibility, and independence, enabling them to navigate daily life with greater ease. NCRTC has also organized several skill development programs under JFPR, aimed at empowering local communities and enhancing livelihoods. These initiatives include providing driving training to women in the Ghaziabad area, fostering economic independence and promoting gender empowerment. Additionally, NCRTC conducted a program to train farmers in modern agricultural techniques, with agricultural specialists leading sessions on hydroponics to enhance sustainable farming practices.
Successful One Year of Operation of Namo Bharat
In October, NCRTC celebrated a significant milestone, marking one year of successful operations of the Namo Bharat corridor with much fervour. The occasion was also marked by the recognition of the top Mobile App users of the Namo Bharat Connect App, who were honoured for their active engagement with the service.
NCRTC organized several community engagement initiatives to bring Namo Bharat services closer to the public and showcase this modern transport solution. One such event, Namo Bharat Unplugged: Live Musical Fridays, launched in July, turned Friday evenings at Ghaziabad Station into a vibrant hub, featuring local college bands from the NCR region and enriching the commuter experience. Additionally, the Namo Bharat Book Fair, held in collaboration with the National Book Trust, aimed to foster a love for reading, inviting book enthusiasts to enjoy the event with family and friends at the station. NCRTC also hosted school visits along the operational corridor, introducing students to the future of public transport, and organized various Nukkad Natak performances to raise awareness about the project.
Opportunities of shotting for films
NCRTC introduced an exciting opportunity for filmmakers/content creators by offering Namo Bharat corridor premises and trains for short-term hire for films, documentaries, TV commercials, and more. This initiative provides a modern, dynamic backdrop for cinematic projects, allowing filmmakers to elevate their work at competitive rates. It has also launched a short film making competition for budding creators.
Meerut Metro trainset
An exciting milestone was achieved in February 2024 with the unveiling of the first Meerut Metro trainset and the ceremonial handover of its keys to NCRTC at Savli, Gujarat. Since then, seven trainsets have arrived at the Depot in Delhi. Currently, train testing and trials are underway in preparation for Meerut Metro operations. These trains are designed to operate at a maximum speed of 120 km/h. The 23 km Meerut Metro corridor will feature 13 stations, with 18 km elevated and 5 km underground section.
Construction on the remaining corridor sections is progressing rapidly. Both the elevated and underground sections in the Meerut area are complete, with Meerut Metro stations beginning to take shape. Power supply has been successfully initiated beyond Meerut South, covering Partapur, Rithani, and Shatabdi Nagar stations. Additionally, the first Receiving Sub-Station (RSS) of the Namo Bharat corridor, located at Shatabdi Nagar in Meerut, has been completed and is now operational.
This year has been a momentous one for NCRTC and the Namo Bharat project, characterized by significant milestones and noteworthy accomplishments. From the successful initiation of services to receiving global recognition, NCRTC has concluded the year on a high note. As we look to the future, the coming year holds great promise, with NCRTC aiming to operationalize the entire Namo Bharat corridor. With unwavering commitment to innovation, collaboration, and excellence, the Namo Bharat project is set to continue its journey, bringing further achievements and advancements that will benefit both commuters and the nation.
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