MEERUT: Indias first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), now known as Namo Bharat, entered its second stage after trains trial run from Duhai to Modinagar South started on Sunday. The first stage of the 17-km stretch from Sahibabad to Duhai depot became operational in October this year.Puneet Vats, CPRO (National Capital Region Transport Corporation), the nodal body appointed to erect the 82-km RRTS corridor, said, "The 12-km stretch from Duhai depot to Modinagar South has been completely erected, tracks have been laid and preparations done." "Trains are being operated on the route to test tracks and traction.The trials will go on for 3-4 months, and trains will be operational soon after," the CPRO said.Vats added: "To commence trials, the electric OHE (overhead equipment) was charged on Sunday with a capacity of 25kV from Murad Nagar receiving sub-station to Modi Nagar South. The Namo Bharat train ran in this section on Sunday. Initially, the train was operated manually and covered the distance from Muradnagar station to Modi Nagar South at minimal speed. The train was then brought back to Duhai with a slight increase in speed." "The 25-km stretch between Duhai Depot and Meerut South will be done in the next corridor stretch. The construction of the viaduct up to Meerut South was completed in June. Track-laying work is almost complete, and other works are in their final stages," Vats further said. The RRTS corridor is a joint venture between the central (50%) and the state governments of Haryana (12.5%), NCT Delhi (12.5%), Uttar Pradesh (12.5%) and Rajasthan (12.5%). It is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 30,270 cr and is set to significantly reduce the commute time between Delhi and Meerut to around 50 minutes.The corridor will consist of 24 stations, with approximately 70.5km of its length elevated and 11.5km underground. The corridor is expected to become fully operational by June 2025. Its first phase, from Sahibabad to Duhai, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20.

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