Context: India’s first semi high-speed regional rapid transit system (RRTS), which will connect Delhi with NCR, including Meerut, Alwar and Panipat, will now be called RAPIDX.
About name RAPIDX
- India’s National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has named its first semi-high-speed regional rail services as ‘RAPIDX’.
- The X in the name denotes next generation technology and new-age mobility solution.
- The leaf symbol is the “highlight of the brand’s commitment towards decarbonization” by not only decongesting NCR and reducing the number of vehicles on road but also by the use of green energy.
About Rapid Rail Transit Services (RRTS) corridor
- The NCRTC which works under the administrative control of Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and is executing the RRTS project is a joint venture of the Government of India (50 per cent) and state governments of Haryana (12.5 per cent), NCT Delhi (12.5 per cent), Uttar Pradesh (12.5 per cent) and Rajasthan (12.5 per cent).
- In the first phase of the project, three corridors, namely, Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror Urban Complex)-Alwar and Delhi-Panipat are under implementation.
- The 82-km long Delhi-Meerut corridor is one of the three priority corridors of Phase-1 planned in the NCR and is expected to be operational by 2025.
- NCRTC is targeting to commission a 17km priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai of the 84km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor, in 2023, before the scheduled time, and the entire first RAPIDX corridor by 2025.
- In the next phase(s), five additional RAPIDX lines will be developed. These are Delhi–Faridabad–Ballabgarh-Palwal, Ghaziabad–Khurja, Delhi- Bahadurgarh-Rohtak, Ghaziabad-Hapur and Delhi-Shahdara-Baraut.
What is Rapid Rail Transit Services (RRTS)?
- It is a dedicated, high speed and high-capacity rail-based commuter service that will connect different regions in the national capital region (NCR).
- It will offer high-frequency, point-to-point travel at an average speed of 160 kmph.
- It will provide a “multi-modal integration” connecting the Railway Stations, Bus Depots, airports, and Metro stations.
How is it different from Delhi Metro?
- The distance travelled on Delhi Metro is usually short and has several stops in between. The RRTS, on the other hand, will be used for relatively longer transits and will have fewer stops.
- RRTS will also be faster as compared to the DMRC’s train. The operational speed of RRTS will be 160 kmph, but for Delhi Metro, it is usually around 80 kmph.
About RRTS- The Journey
- In 2005, Niti Aayog, then known as the Planning Commission, formed a task force in 2005 under the chairmanship of the secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD) to develop a multi-modal transit system for Delhi NCR.
- The main objective was to reduce the dependence of commuters on road-based transportation and this was included in NCRPB’s Integrated Transport Plan (ITP) for NCR 2032.
- The Task Force also identified 8 corridors and prioritised three corridors, Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-Alwar, for implementation.
- NCRTC was made the project’s nodal agency, and it was formed as a joint venture of the Centre and the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Benefits of Rapid Rail Transit Systems (RRTS)
- Reduced travel time due to high speeds, easing congestion and increasing productivity.
- Improved connectivity with seamless integration with other modes of transportation.
- Environmentally friendly with reduced carbon emissions and air pollution.
- Economic benefits through job creation and regional development.
- Enhanced safety and comfort with modern technologies and amenities.
- Promotes sustainable urban development with transit-oriented development (TOD) principles.
- Reduces dependence on private vehicles, contributing to a more sustainable transportation system.
