Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Meerut on Sunday to flag off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train from Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat station. (Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN)

NEW DELHI/MEERUT: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Meerut on Sunday to flag off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train from Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat station. He will undertake a metro ride from Shatabdi Nagar to Meerut South station before inaugurating and dedicating development projects worth around Rs 12,930 crore to the nation.PM Modi is also scheduled to address a public gathering during the event.Namo Bharat: India’s First Regional Rapid Transit SystemThis includes the inauguration of the remaining sections of India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) — the 5-km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and the 21-km stretch between Meerut South and Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN

Designed for a top speed of 180 kmph, operational speed 160kmph, Namo Bharat is India’s first regional rapid transit system aimed at transforming high-speed intercity travel. The corridor connects key urban centres such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut with Delhi.Multi-Modal Connectivity At Sarai Kale KhanSarai Kale Khan, the originating station of the corridor, is among the four Namo Bharat stations being commissioned. It has been developed as a major multi-modal hub, seamlessly integrating with Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, the Pink Line of Delhi Metro, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and the Ring Road.

Image Credit: Anushka Kogta/TNN

The other three stations being commissioned — Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul and Modipuram — are located in Meerut. The project is expected to decongest roads and significantly reduce vehicular carbon dioxide emissions.Meerut Metro: India’s Fastest Metro SystemSeparately, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Meerut Metro will operate on the same infrastructure as the Namo Bharat corridor.With a maximum operational speed of around 120 kmph, the Meerut Metro will be India’s fastest metro system. The metro is expected to cover the entire stretch in approximately 30 minutes, including all scheduled stoppages.This integration of intercity Namo Bharat services with intra-city Meerut Metro operations on a shared corridor is being projected as a benchmark model for urban and regional transit planning in India.