Historic Opening of Namo Bharat's Full Corridor Draws Enthusiastic Crowds
For Puja Prajapati and her family, the historic occasion was worth every minute of the long wait. The artist, along with her husband Amit and son Prithvi, traveled from Burari to the Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station around noon on Sunday, eager to board the inaugural Namo Bharat train to Meerut. Upon arrival, they discovered services would commence at 6 pm. Undeterred, the family waited nearly six hours, purchasing the first ticket to Begumpul at 5:45 pm, moments after the counter opened.
Transforming Commutes and Family Visits
"Previously, I could only visit my family in Meerut's Ganga Nagar during my son's school holidays. Now, I can make a quick trip and return the same day," explained Puja Prajapati. After boarding the premium coach, the family commemorated the moment with celebratory selfies. "We had traveled on the Namo Bharat between Anand Vihar and Meerut South earlier, but we were determined to board from the originating station on the very first day," added Amit, an accountant.
The opening day witnessed a steady stream of passengers at Sarai Kale Khan station. The complete 82-kilometer journey from Sarai Kale Khan to Modipuram takes approximately 58 minutes, with a maximum standard fare of Rs 210. Passengers opting for the premium coach pay an additional 20%. Trains are scheduled at intervals of about 8 to 10 minutes.
Expanded Connectivity and Joy Rides
While a 55-kilometer section covering 11 stations from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South was already operational, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the entire corridor on Sunday. This includes the originating station at Sarai Kale Khan and three stations in Uttar Pradesh: Shatabdi Nagar, Begumpul, and Modipuram.
Many attendees arrived purely for the experience of a joy ride. Mohan Rathore and his 12-year-old son Sarthak waited almost seven hours at Sarai Kale Khan to board the first train. "My son and I had heard so much about it, and we were incredibly excited to take this ride," Rathore shared.
Significant Time Savings and Commuter Benefits
For numerous passengers, the most substantial advantage is the dramatic reduction in travel time. Vipin Kumar, who returned from Srinagar to Delhi, highlighted how the service would simplify his commute home. "Earlier, I had to take a bus that made frequent stops, taking around two and a half hours to reach Meerut. Traveling with luggage was challenging. Now I can reach home in less than an hour," he stated.
The service also greatly benefits passengers boarding from intermediate cities. Arshi Khan, a private-sector employee, chose the train to reach her home in Ghaziabad more swiftly. "It helps me avoid traffic and saves considerable time," she noted.
Leisure Trips and Enhanced Integration
Some families utilized the occasion for brief leisure excursions. Ravindra Kumar, a professor, traveled with his wife Sureksha Pawar and their two children to Modipuram. "We wanted to experience the train for the first time, visit our relatives for dinner, and return the same day," he explained.
Vijay Lokesh from Modinagar arrived at Sarai Kale Khan from Gurgaon with his family via the Delhi Metro. "We were previously unaware that the Metro station and the Namo Bharat station are connected by a foot overbridge. We had walked along the road to reach the RRTS station," he recounted, emphasizing that this seamless integration will make travel far more convenient in the future.
