PM Modi flags off RRTS: What is this mass transport system, how it can benefit NCR

Subject: Geography

Section: Economic geography

Context:

India’s first mass rapid system {Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS)} dedicated to regional connectivity, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister.

Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS):

Core objective of RRTS: Semi high-speed rail connectivity.
It is an integrated, mass transit network which aims to ensure “balanced and sustainable urban development” through better connectivity and access across the NCR.
Capable of running at speeds up to 180 km/hour.
It will cut the journey time between Delhi and Meerut to less than an hour.
Timeline:
- 1998-99: A study identified the possibility of an RRTS network to connect various locations in the NCR through fast commuter trains.
- 2006: The proposal was re-examined with the extension of the Delhi Metro lines to some NCR towns such as Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad.
It was then taken up by National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) while developing its “Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032”.
The NCRPB identified and recommended eight RRTS corridors to connect NCR towns with high speed rail-based commuter transit services.

RRTS- Namo Bharat:

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is a joint venture company of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, has constructed the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) also known as Namo Bharat.
This joint venture company is under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
It is mandated with implementing the RRTS project across the National Capital Region, which is spread across an estimated 55,000 square kilometres and is home to a population of over 46 crorewith a combined GDP of an estimated $370 billion.

How is the RRTS different from existing metro or railways systems?

RRTS trains will travel significantly faster than metro trains.
- It will operate at a speed of 160 km/hour but is designed to be able to run at speeds up to 180 km/hour. Delhi Metro trains can operate at 100 km/hour to 120 km/hour.
It will cater to commuters who want to travel relatively longer distances across the NCR in a short time.
Compared to Indian Railways:
- It will cover shorter distance
- Higher frequency of RRTS
- Higher speed
- Provide relatively more comfortable coaches
The RRTS is modelled on systems such as the RER in Paris, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria as well as the SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, among others.

Objective behind the RRTS project:

Enhancing multi-modal connectivity at the existing transportation hubs.
To nudge commuters towards public transportation and have a positive impact on relieving the congestion both on its road/highways as well as existing metro and railway networks.
To give a push to employment generation and the opening up of newer commercial hubs along the current contours of the NCR.

Which corridors are being developed under the RRTS project?

Eight corridors will be developed under the project, of which three are being constructed under phase I: the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, the 164-kmDelhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar, and the 103-kmDelhi-Panipat corridors.
The corridors to be developed in future include Delhi – Faridabad – Ballabgarh – Palwal; Ghaziabad – Khurja; Delhi – Bahadurgarh – Rohtak; Ghaziabad-Hapur; and Delhi-Shahadra-Baraut.
All three corridors are being constructed under phase I – connecting the city to U.P, Haryana and Rajasthan – converging at Sarai Kale Khan, Delhi.

What part of the RRTS is being thrown open? How long will it take for the entire project to be operational?

The 17-km stretch, classified as the ‘priority section’ of the 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, has been inaugurated by the Prime Minister.
It has 16 stations, of which the priority section has five: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot.
The entire corridor is expected to be operational by 2025.

Source: IE