Dehradun: Rishikesh will be connected to Delhi by Namo Bharat trains under a proposed 150km extension of the existing Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor from Modipuram in Meerut to Laxman Jhula. Officials stated that this project will reduce travel time between Delhi and Rishikesh from nearly six hours by road to about 2.5 to 3 hours.
Agreement Reached for RRTS Extension
An agreement has been reached between Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to advance the proposal. A survey for preparing the detailed project report (DPR) will commence shortly. The proposed corridor will start from Modipuram, pass through Muzaffarnagar, enter Uttarakhand, and then move through Roorkee, Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, and reach Laxman Jhula near Rishikesh.
Alignment and Coverage
Officials noted that the proposed alignment will cover approximately 72km in Uttar Pradesh and 78km in Uttarakhand. It is being planned as an extension of the Namo Bharat network, which currently links Delhi with Meerut. The extension will take the rapid rail system beyond the National Capital Region (NCR) into Uttarakhand’s pilgrim and tourism belt, offering a modern transport option for passengers traveling between Delhi-NCR, western Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had been advocating for the extension and recently met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar with the proposal. Following these meetings, officials confirmed that consensus was reached to initiate the next stage of work for extending the corridor from Modipuram to Rishikesh.
Coordination and Nodal Officers
To expedite coordination, the Uttarakhand government has appointed Additional Secretary Reena Joshi as the nodal officer for the project, while NCRTC has also designated its nodal officer. The Uttar Pradesh government has given its consent, clearing the path for the survey and DPR exercise.
CM Dhami Highlights Connectivity Boost
Chief Minister Dhami stated that the extension will provide a major connectivity boost to Uttarakhand. “The extension of Namo Bharat train service from Meerut to Rishikesh will give a new direction to Uttarakhand’s connectivity. This will provide fast, safe, and modern transport facilities to pilgrims, tourists, and local people,” he said. He added that the state is coordinating with all agencies to advance the project. “The state government is continuously coordinating with the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government, and NCRTC to take this ambitious project forward,” Dhami remarked.
DPR Survey Details
Officials explained that the DPR survey will examine alignment, station locations, ridership potential, land requirements, engineering challenges, funding structure, and integration with existing transport hubs. The Haridwar-Rishikesh belt is one of Uttarakhand’s busiest travel corridors due to the Char Dham Yatra, Kanwar Yatra, tourism, yoga and wellness travel, and daily movement of local commuters.
