NEW DELHI (Metro Rail News): The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System recorded over 1 lakh (100,000) passengers on 23 February 2026. This development was recorded just within 24 hours of the inauguration of the remaining sections of the Delhi Meerut RRTS.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation reported that ridership crossed the 100,000 mark by the departure of the last train at 10:00 PM. The achievement surpasses previous phased operational highs.
Record-Breaking Ridership
| Date | February 23, 2026 |
| Total Ridership | Over 1,00,000 passengers |
| Previous Record | Over 85,000 passengers (on partial corridor) |
| Operational Corridor | Complete 82.15 km (Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram) |
| Modal Share Shift | Public transport: 37% to 63% |
NCRTC Official Statement
In a post on its official social media handle, NCRTC stated: “On 23 Feb 2026, the first full day of operations on the entire Delhi–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram, along with Meerut Metro recorded over 1,00,000 ridership. This is the highest-ever single-day ridership so far on the corridor.
The opening of the entire RRTS line now shifts the modal share in favour of public transport from 37% to 63%..
During the inauguration, PM Modi described the moment as the dawn of a “new era of world-class infrastructure” for Uttar Pradesh and the entire country.
Journey Time
The completion of the corridor has reduced the travel time from Delhi to Meerut from 2.5-3 hours by road to approximately 55-59 minutes via Namo Bharat trains.
Sarai Kale Khan: Multi-Modal Hub
The terminus at Sarai Kale Khan will become a major transportation hub with interchange facilities connecting multiple modes. The station provides connections to Delhi Metro’s Pink Line, Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, Veer Haqeeqat Rai Inter-State Bus Terminal, and Ring Road. Additionally, city bus services converge at the location, creating comprehensive multimodal connectivity.
Sarai Kale Khan will also serve as the terminal for the other two RRTS lines:
- Delhi-Panipat corridor
- Delhi-Gurgaon-Bawal
The daily ridership on the completed corridor is expected to reach 795,000 passengers as the system matures and commuters increasingly shift from road to rail.
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