New Delhi, 18 October (H.S.): More than 4.5 crore passenger trips have been recorded on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor during its first three years of operations, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said. The rapid rail service currently carries over 1.1 lakh passengers daily and has registered a record of approximately 1.68 lakh passenger trips in a single day.

The NCRTC celebrated Namo Bharat Diwas 2026 on Sunday in the presence of Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, Ministry Secretary D. Thara, Urban Development Department Secretary Satendra Singh and other officials.

Addressing the gathering, Manohar Lal said Namo Bharat was not merely a name but a symbol of the spirit of putting the nation first, dedication and cultural values. He said the service was strengthening regional connectivity while giving a new direction to urban transportation. The minister also appreciated the contributions of the officials, engineers, technical experts and other personnel involved in the project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the corridor on October 20, 2023. Operations on the initial 17-kilometre section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot began in October 2023, after which the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was commissioned in phases.

On February 22, 2026, the Prime Minister dedicated the complete Namo Bharat corridor, along with the Meerut Metro, to the nation.

According to the NCRTC, efforts are underway to improve connectivity between Namo Bharat and other modes of transport, making it easier for passengers to access stations and complete the first and last legs of their journeys.

To strengthen the project’s environmental and financial sustainability, a 110-megawatt solar power plant is being developed under the ‘Solar on Track’ initiative.

NCRTC Managing Director Shalabh Goel said the organisation was committed to developing a modern, safe, reliable and environmentally friendly regional transport system.

During the celebrations, annual awards were presented to employees for their outstanding performance. The programme also featured cultural performances.

The NCRTC said the proposed Delhi-Panipat-Karnal and Delhi-Gurugram-Behror Namo Bharat corridors are expected to receive approval soon. Meanwhile, the preparation of detailed project reports for the Ghaziabad-Jewar and Noida-Faridabad-Gurugram corridors is underway.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar