Poll bonanza: PM Modi launches Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat train
Ahead of the Assembly elections in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched several projects in the National Capital which involved the inauguration of the first Namo Bharat Train from Sahibabad to New Ashok Nagar and the extension of Metro Phase-IV.
The PM inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth over Rs 12,200 crore in Delhi. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manohar Lal and Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena, Delhi CM Atishi were present at the event.
He also undertook a ride in Namo Bharat Train from Sahibabad Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), “Delhi-NCR has received a significant gift from the Government of India... India’s urban mobility has expanded further. Once the Namo Bharat project is completed, there will be a significant change in traffic on the Delhi-Meerut route,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
The 13 km stretch of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar, worth around Rs 4,600 crore will cut travel time, commuters will be able to reach Meerut South within 40 minutes, a government official said.
The fare from New Ashok Nagar Station, the first operational station to Meerut South is Rs150 for standard coach and Rs 225 for premium coach. Currently, there are two stations in Delhi which are operational – New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar. While the other two RRTS station – Sarai Kale Khan and Jangpura – are expected to be operational by April and May 2025, respectively.
PM remarked that in 2014, when the country gave his party the opportunity, India was not even in the top ten globally in terms of Metro connectivity. However, over the past ten years, India has become the third-largest country in the world in terms of Metro network, he said.
“India’s Metro network has now reached 1,000 km… during the current tenure of the BJP government, India will have the second-largest metro network in the world.” he added. He also inaugurated the 2.8 km stretch between Janakpuri and Krishna Park of Delhi Metro Phase-IV worth around Rs 1,200 crore. This was the first stretch of Delhi Metro Phase-IV to be inaugurated. The areas of West Delhi such as Krishna Park, parts of Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, among others will be connected.
“Over the past decade, the government’s primary focus has been on infrastructure development... Ten years ago, the budget for infrastructure was around Rs two lakh crore, which has now increased to over Rs 11 lakh crore. Modern infrastructure is helping to ensure a dignified and quality life for everyone, including the poor and the middle class,” Modi said.
While, foundation stone was laid for 26.5 km Rithala - Kundli section of Delhi Metro Phase-IV, worth around Rs 6,230 crore. This corridor will connect Rithala in Delhi to Nathupur (Kundli) in Haryana. Among the key areas which will connect the line include Rohini, Bawana, Narela, and Kundli.
Foundation stone for the Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI) at Rohini, New Delhi was also laid. The project will be constructed at a cost of around Rs 185 crore.
The campus will provide healthcare and medicine infrastructure, it will house the Administrative Block, the OPD Block, the IPD Block, and a Treatment Block.
“India has immense potential to become the world’s health and wellness capital... The day is not far when, along with ‘Make in India’, the world will also adopt ‘Heal in India’ as a mantra. To facilitate foreign citizens in availing AYUSH treatments in India, a special AYUSH visa facility has been introduced and in a short span, hundreds of foreign nationals have benefited from this facility,” he added.
