By: The Trek News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (February 22, 2026) inaugurated the Meerut Metro and flagged off the Namo Bharat train service from Shatabdi Nagar station, marking a major boost to regional and urban connectivity in western Uttar Pradesh. With this launch, the Prime Minister dedicated the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor to the nation.
During the visit, PM Modi also travelled on the metro from Shatabdi Nagar to Meerut South station. In addition to the transport projects, he inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for development works worth approximately ₹12,930 crore and addressed a public gathering.
The Namo Bharat is India’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), designed to operate at speeds of up to 180 km per hour. The high-speed corridor aims to significantly cut travel time between Delhi and key urban centres, including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut.
As part of the latest inauguration, a 5-kilometre stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, along with a 21-kilometre section from Meerut South to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh, has become operational. Sarai Kale Khan serves as the originating station of the corridor and has been developed as a major multi-modal transport hub, offering seamless connectivity to the Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station, the Pink Line of the Delhi Metro, Veer Haqeeqat Rai ISBT, and the Ring Road.
In Meerut, the newly commissioned stations under this phase include Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram.
The Prime Minister also inaugurated the Meerut Metro service between Meerut South and Modipuram. Notably, this is the first instance in India where a regional rapid rail system and a metro service are operating on the same infrastructure.
The Meerut Metro will have a top operational speed of around 120 km per hour, enabling commuters to cover the entire stretch in nearly 30 minutes, including scheduled stops. The integrated model is expected to streamline both high-speed intercity travel and efficient intra-city commuting.
According to officials, the combined Namo Bharat and Meerut Metro network is likely to ease road congestion and reduce vehicular carbon emissions in the region. The initiative is being seen as a significant step toward modernising India’s public transport infrastructure with a focus on speed, sustainability, and passenger convenience.
The projects align with the government’s broader vision of building world-class, environmentally friendly, and efficient public transportation systems to enhance the overall quality of urban life.
Source: News Agencies
