Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Visits India’s first Namo Bharat Corridor

Principal Secretary to the  Prime Minister Visits India’s first Namo Bharat Corridor

Meerut.Principal Secretary to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Dr. P. K. Mishra, visited the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor along with Shri Tarun Kapoor, Advisor to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, and senior officials from the PMO. He was also accompanied by Secretary (Housing and Urban Affairs), Shri Srinivas Katikithala, and other senior officials from the Ministry. Managing Director, NCRTC, Shri Shalabh Goel, welcomed him at Sarai Kale Khan Namo Bharat Station, along with Directors and senior officials of NCRTC.

Shri Goel provided a detailed briefing on India’s first Namo Bharat project, covering the project overview, the advanced technologies underpinning its operations, and the range of initiatives driving a new paradigm in regional mobility. NCRTC has successfully implemented India’s first 82 km Namo Bharat corridor, connecting Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut. The briefing highlighted the system’s role in addressing critical urban challenges by reducing congestion and vehicular emissions, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and efficient transport ecosystem. The transformative potential of the corridor in decongesting the region and fostering polycentric urban growth was also underscored, a trend already being witnessed following the commissioning of the full corridor.

The visit commenced at Sarai Kale Khan Namo Bharat Station, the originating station of the corridor. The station is emerging as a major multi-modal transit hub, offering seamless connectivity to Delhi Metro, Railway Station, ISBT, city bus services and the Ring Road. The delegation experienced the station’s integrated design and the emphasis on seamless commuter movement across different modes of public transport. It was also highlighted that all three priority Namo Bharat corridors of Phase-1 will converge at Sarai Kale Khan and will be interoperable. Dr. Mishra appreciated the creation of a network-of-networks of public transport systems, wherein various modes complement one another to enable seamless transfers and promote a shift from private vehicles to public transport.

The delegation undertook a round trip on the Namo Bharat train from Sarai Kale Khan to Duhai Depot station, experiencing the commuter-centric features of the trains. Dr. Mishra took keen interest in NCRTC’s focus on comfort and inclusivity, particularly noting the provision for carrying stretchers to meet medical transit needs, along with other amenities designed to enhance ease of travel for all sections of society. He also offered valuable insights and guidance on sustainability, while commending NCRTC for its ongoing initiatives.

During the visit, Dr. Mishra inaugurated the new premises of the state-of-the-art Centre for Innovation, ‘अपरिमित’. NCRTC is leveraging advanced technologies such as Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, simulators and Building Information Modelling to enhance operational efficiency and training of train operators. The innovation centre will serve as a hub for the development and application of advanced digital technologies for the Namo Bharat corridor.

The delegation also visited the workshop and Inspection Bay Lines (IBL) at the Duhai Depot, where upkeep, maintenance and testing of trains are carried out. On the occasion, a documentation book capturing the implementation journey of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System, titled ‘Namo Bharat: India’s New-Age Mobility’, was released.

Recently, on 22 February 2026, the Hon’ble Prime Minister dedicated the entire Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor to the nation, marking a transformative new chapter in the country’s urban mobility landscape.