Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated India’s achievements during the inauguration of the 17-km priority section of the country’s first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, which took place on Friday. He cited significant milestones, such as hosting the G20 Summit, the successful landing of Indian spacecraft on the moon’s unexplored South Pole, and the remarkable performances of Indian athletes at the Asian Games, as indications that India is making substantial progress across various sectors.
During the event, Modi also flagged off and rode the Namo Bharat train, which connects Sahibabad and Duhai Depot stations, marking the official launch of the RRTS. The project’s total cost amounts to approximately $362 million. The RRTS is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut, passing through Ghaziabad, Muradnagar, and Modinagar, ultimately reducing it to less than an hour.
One significant aspect of the Namo Bharat train is that its entire crew, from the driver to the rest of the staff, consists of women, symbolizing the growing empowerment of women in India. Modi referred to Namo Bharat as a beacon of women’s empowerment and highlighted the changing landscape in India.
Modi pledged a transformation of the railway system in the next 10 years, emphasizing that India has never before witnessed the level of investment in public transport. The commitment to changing the railway system is enormous, with the government spending substantial funds to enhance and modernize the country’s railway network.
During his speech, Prime Minister Modi encouraged people to treat the trains with care, stating, “Treat them like your personal property.” He also promised to support further development and expansion of the RRTS network, which is set to play a pivotal role in improving India’s public transport and overall infrastructure.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who was also present at the inauguration, referred to this project as a Navratri gift to the people of Uttar Pradesh. He mentioned that the state, being the most populous in the country, is experiencing the development of new infrastructure under the government’s leadership. Adityanath noted the extensive work on metro rail services in various cities and the upcoming ropeway service in Varanasi.
