The Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) has recorded a sharp rise in passenger numbers, with its average daily ridership nearly doubling in a year, according to data shared by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
Average daily ridership climbed from 47,745 in July 2025 to 94,936 in July 2026, marking a 98.8 per cent increase. The upward trend continued in September, when the corridor recorded an average of 108,044 passengers a day. The system has also crossed 45 million cumulative passenger journeys, NCRTC officials said.
Corridor expands across NCR
The RRTS began operations on October 21, 2023, with a 17-km priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai depot.
“The corridor has expanded through phased openings since October 2023, gradually extending its operational reach across the NCR,” an official said.
The Duhai-Modinagar North section opened in March 2024, followed by the extension to Meerut South in August that year. In January 2025, services entered Delhi with the opening of the Sahibabad-New Ashok Nagar section.
The remaining sections connecting New Ashok Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan, Meerut South and Modipuram opened in February 2026, completing the 82-km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor.
Key stations drive passenger traffic
Five stations — Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad and Begumpul — account for more than 40 per cent of the corridor's total ridership, officials said.
“Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar in Delhi, along with Ghaziabad and Begumpul, account for more than 40% of the corridor’s total ridership. These stations connect Namo Bharat with Metro, Indian Railways, ISBT services and city buses, strengthening its role within the wider NCR public transport ecosystem,” the official cited above said.
NCRTC attributed easier access to multimodal integration and parking facilities. More than 8,000 vehicles can be accommodated at Namo Bharat stations.
“NCRTC has also introduced a live parking status feature on the Namo Bharat Connect app, allowing commuters to check the current occupancy of parking spaces and plan their travel accordingly. Such facilities provide greater flexibility to commuters,” the official said.