INTERVIEW
Our target is that in March 2023, rapid rail will start running on 17 km of this corridor and gradually its sections will be opened. By 2025, passengers of Delhi will be able to reach Meerut in an hour by Rapid Rail. We estimate that in 2025, 8 lakh passengers will travel daily on Rapid Rail. -
VINAY KUMAR SINGH Managing Director, NCRTC
The proposal to build semi high-speed rapid rail (Regional Rail Transit System) between Delhi and Meerut was in the files for a long time. Its construction started two years ago, but only a year later, Covid-9 put brakes on all activities. Due to this the work of Rapid Rail was also affected. Will this project be completed on time? Who will run the Rapid Rail? How much will be the fare between Delhi-Meerut and when will work on the rest of the corridors? In a recent media interaction, Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has replied to all these questions. What is the status of construction of Rapid Rail between Delhi and Meerut? The construction work is going on in full swing on this route. A large number of pillars have been prepared in the UP part. Tunnel construction work in Delhi's Anand Vihar will start soon. Our target is that in March 2023, rapid rail will start running on 17 km of this corridor and gradually
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URBAN TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE JULY 2021
its sections will be opened. By 2025, passengers of Delhi will be able to reach Meerut in an hour by Rapid Rail. We estimate that in 2025, 8 lakh passengers will travel daily on Rapid Rail. Work stopped due to Covid, has it affected the construction? Will the cost also increase? The work was stopped during Covid. At that time oxygen was being supplied for covid patients, so oxygen supply was stopped for construction works. But now we have time to start this entire line, so it should be expected that if there is no major hurdle, then the rapid rail will run on time. As far as cost escalation is concerned, it will be finalized only when the project is completed. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, all the metro companies of the country are stuck in financial crisis. The average cost of construction of Rapid Rail is also around Rs 370 crore km, so what is the preparation for Rapid Rail not to face any crisis? We will focus on reducing the cost. Many metros are currently handing over some work to private companies, so
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