Modi Flags Off Meerut Metro and Namo Bharat RRTS, Dedicates 82 km Delhi-Meerut Corridor to Nation
India's Fastest Metro at 120 km/h and First Regional Rapid Transit System Now Fully Operational; PM Unveils Rs 12,930 Crore Projects in Meerut
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday flagged off the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat train at Shatabdi Nagar Namo Bharat Station in Meerut, formally dedicating the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor to the nation — completing India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and marking a transformative moment for urban connectivity in northern India.
The Namo Bharat RRTS — designed to run at speeds of up to 180 km per hour — now connects Delhi with major urban centres including Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar, and Meerut at a pace that fundamentally redefines commuting in the National Capital Region. The Prime Minister also flagged off Meerut Metro services between Meerut South and Modipuram, operating on the same shared infrastructure as Namo Bharat in a first-of-its-kind integration in the country.
Meerut Metro holds the distinction of being India's fastest metro system, with a maximum operational speed of approximately 120 km per hour — covering the entire stretch in just 30 minutes. After flagging off the services, Modi undertook a metro ride to Meerut South Station, interacting with students and passengers along the way.
Beyond the transit inauguration, the Prime Minister unveiled a wide portfolio of development projects worth approximately Rs 12,930 crore for Meerut and the surrounding region. Modi framed the day's events as emblematic of the BJP's "double engine growth" model — with the Centre and state government working in tandem to deliver infrastructure at pace.
"Today's projects will give thrust to Viksit Uttar Pradesh and Viksit Bharat," Modi told the gathering, reiterating his government's commitment to time-bound project delivery.
Reflecting on India's urban transit journey, the Prime Minister noted that metro services reached only five cities before 2014 — a number that has now grown to more than 25, making India the third-largest metro network in the world. He also highlighted Uttar Pradesh's emergence as a manufacturing hub, pointing to the recent foundation-laying of the state's first semiconductor factory as a sign of things to come.
Modi also took the opportunity to take a sharp swipe at the Congress party over the Youth Congress protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026. "On one hand, countrymen are working day and night to make India developed — but some political parties cannot digest India's success," he said, calling Congress "a burden to the country." He also thanked Congress's own allies for publicly condemning the act.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, speaking at the event, said the projects inaugurated today would bring widespread benefit to the people of the state.