The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) will introduce eight additional fast Namo Bharat train services during morning and evening peak hours from November 16, reducing travel time between Anand Vihar and Ghaziabad to just eight minutes, officials said on Saturday.
The limited-stop services on the Delhi-Meerut corridor will cover the distance between Anand Vihar and Begumpul in 36 minutes, while the journey from Ghaziabad to Begumpul will take 28 minutes. The entire corridor will be covered in less than 50 minutes, NCRTC said.
The fast trains will halt at only five stations โ Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Begumpul and Modipuram โ allowing passengers to bypass intermediate stops and reduce travel time.
The additional services are primarily aimed at office-goers, students and other commuters travelling during peak hours.
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According to NCRTC, two trains in each direction will depart from Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram at 8 am and 8.30 am during the morning peak hours.
In the evening, the additional trains will depart from both terminal stations at 6 pm and 6.30 pm.
The eight fast services will operate alongside the existing Namo Bharat trains, which will continue running at intervals of 10 minutes.
NCRTC clarified that the introduction of limited-stop trains would not affect the frequency of regular services, ensuring that passengers travelling to intermediate stations continue to have access to the existing timetable.
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The Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor currently handles approximately 1.1 lakh passengers daily and has crossed the milestone of five crore passenger journeys, according to NCRTC.
Over the past three months, the system recorded average monthly ridership exceeding 32 lakh, reflecting growing use of the regional rapid transit network.
The corporation said the additional services were intended to improve commuting convenience and encourage more people to shift from private vehicles to public transport.
The initiative also comes amid concerns over rising air pollution and road congestion across Delhi-NCR, with improved regional connectivity expected to provide commuters with a faster alternative to road travel.
Passengers have been advised to check electronic display boards at stations and listen to platform announcements to distinguish between fast and regular Namo Bharat services before boarding.
NCRTC said the enhanced timetable would provide faster travel options during busy periods without disrupting regular train operations.