Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched the priority section of India’s first Regional Rapid Train Service (RRTS) and flagged off ‘Namo Bharat’ RAPIDX train from UP’s Sahibabad RAPIDX station. The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system. The priority section of the RRTS runs for 17kms from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot out of the total 82.5 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut route  and starts on the 21st of October, whereas the entire corridor is scheduled to be operational by June 2025. The priority section will have five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. An official had told news agency PTI that the trains will be operational between 6 AM and 11 PM.

During his visit the PM also interacted with students and crew members of the RRTS and said that today is a historic day for India. "I have said this before and I'm saying this again - We inaugurate which we lay the foundation stone for. And this Meerut portion (of RRTC) will be completed in the next 1.5 years, then too, I'll be there at your service," said PM Modi in Ghaziabad.

"I had the opportunity to experience travel on this ultra-modern train (Namo Bharat). I spent my childhood on the railway platform and today this new form of the railways is filling me with joy. This experience is delightful. We have the tradition of performing auspicious works during Navratri. India's first Namo Bharat train has received the blessings of Maa Katyayani today," ANI quoted PM Modi as saying.

Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath thanked PM Modi for the RRTS and said, "I thank PM Modi on behalf of the 25 crore people of Uttar Pradesh for inaugurating the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor".

“Vande Bharat gave us a glimpse of new India. Today the most populous state in the country is witnessing new infrastructure. This is the effort of the double-engine government that today five cities of UP have metro rail services; In January, metro rail services will also begin in Agra. The construction of a ropeway service is also underway in Varanasi”, said Yogi Adityanath, reports ANI.

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