NEW DELHI: Though test runs on the 17-km-long priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai depot of the Regional Rapid Transit System are under way, the construction of the 14km portion located within Delhi is also progressing at a good pace, raising hopes that the entire corridor can become operational by 2025.Out of the 82km of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor, the 13.3km segment in the capital has four stations with a 9-km elevated portion. About 2.5km of viaducts for the elevated section has been erected so far. Apart from this, around 50% of pier construction has also been completed for this section.“With the construction of the corridor and stations in Delhi’s section progressing well, the entire Delhi-Meerut corridor is targeted to be operationalised by June 2025,” said an official of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is executing the project.The city segment of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor has four stations at Jangpura, Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar. While the first three are elevated stations, Anand Vihar is an underground facility.“The construction of the Sarai Kale Khan station is in full swing. About 90% of cross arms have been cast for the concourse level and the construction of the platform level is going to begin soon,” said an NCRTC spokesperson.The official added that at New Ashok Nagar station, all cross arms had been cast and slab casting for the concourse was in progress. The slab casting for the platform level had also started simultaneously. At Anand Vihar station too, construction of the roof slab was being carried out. Apart from this, the operation rooms are also being constructed.As the corridor, when moving towards New Ashok Nagar RRTS station, will cross both Barapullah flyover and the adjoining Ring Road, a special, 260-metre span is being erected. In-situ construction is being carried out from both sides with the span being built in segments.Officials said construction of the 4.1-km underground section in Delhi is also progressing at pace with four Sudarshan tunnel boring machines working day and night to create the tunnels. The first TBM, Sudarshan 4.1, has completed the excavation of around 2.2km in the direction of New Ashok Nagar while the second TBM, Sudarshan 4.2, has dug around 1.8km for the parallel tunnel.According to NCRTC officials, All the RRTS stations will have pedestrian-friendly paths, lifts and escalators and sitting areas among other commuter-centric amenities. The platforms will also have screen doors for enhanced passenger safety.TOI earlier reported that NCRTC had adopted a multi-modal integration approach in the design, with RRTS stations to be linked with other modes of transport such as airports, railways, bus terminals, Delhi Metro and expressways, wherever possible. It will facilitate the seamless movement of commuters in the belief that such integration among different modes of transport encourages use of public transport.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/delhi-meerut-rrts-corridor-on-track-for-june-2025-completion/articleshow/97183830.cms