Delhi government today approved three corridors under the ambitious Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project which will connect the national capital with neighbouring cities of Meerut, Panipat and Alwar by high speed trains.
The project was first mooted by the National Capital Regional Planning Board (NCRPB) of the Union Urban Development Ministry.
The first corridor Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat is 111 km long and is estimated to carry 3.77 lakh people daily in 2016, while the second corridor Delhi-Gurgaon-Alwar is 180 km long and the daily ridership is estimated to be 7 lakh, according to the Delhi government officials.
The third corridor Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut is 90 km long and would carry an estimated 5.7 lakh people everyday in 2016.
The total length of the three corridors is 349 kms, as the Delhi-Alwar corridor terminated at Delhi Border.
The Delhi-Meerut corridor, through Anand Vihar to Sarai Kale Khan would be implemented as per the proposal of NCRPB and also supported by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
In Delhi-Panipat corridor, the proposal of NCRPB with destination up to Kashmere Gate would be implemented and the proposal of Delhi-Alwar corridor changes in the alignment as suggested by DMRC are not agreed to as the services of Metro is available from Delhi to Gurgaon and for the time being, this corridor from Alwar may terminate at Gurgaon near Delhi border.
Earlier the project -- aimed at connecting Delhi with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh by 2016 -- was opposed by Sheila Dikshit-led Congress government.
The government had opposed the RRTS entering the city limits and had proposed it should be limited to the outskirts.
Later due to the Lok Sabha polls the project was put on hold.
