STN: Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has completed casting the last of 6,290 precast box segments for the Delhi–Meerut RRTS (Rapid Rail Transit System) project’s Package 7. This milestone was reached near Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, on the 82.15-km line designed to connect Delhi and Meerut.
Mainline Progress on Delhi–Meerut RRTS Package 7
This final casting completes the work for Package 7, coming just days after L&T launched the last span of the 9.46-km mainline. The last batch of segments will be used to build a 1.7-km depot line. This line will connect the mainline to Modipuram Depot, which is currently under construction.
Modipuram Depot’s Role
Modipuram Depot, developed under Package 5B by KSM Bashir Mohammad & Sons, will serve as the main storage and maintenance facility. The depot will house 20 Alstom semi-high-speed train sets with nine coaches each. It will also accommodate 36 three-coach Alstom MRTS trains for Meerut’s local metro. These trains will operate on a 20-km route between Partapur and Modipuram.
Key Features of Delhi–Meerut RRTS Package 7
L&T’s Package 7 is divided into two primary sections: Reach 1 and Reach 2. Reach 1, spanning 2.35 km, connects Shatabdi Nagar to the Brahmapuri Ramp in the south. Reach 2, covering a larger stretch of 7.11 km, connects the Begumpul Ramp to the Modipuram Depot in the north. This second reach includes four stations located at MES Colony, Daurli, Meerut North, and Modipuram. Reach 2 is the main section within Package 7, designed to cater to both long-distance and local metro services in the area.
The construction process required a specialized casting yard at Shatabdi Nagar. This facility produced a total of 6,290 box segments, each 10.5 meters wide. Additionally, 203 I-girders, 414 precast beams, and U-shell portal beams were manufactured at this site, contributing to the viaduct’s construction across the Delhi–Meerut RRTS Package 7.
Stations and Local Meerut Metro Services
Three stations along Reach 2 – Meerut North, Daurli, and MES Colony – will serve only the local Meerut Metro line. These stations are planned for Alstom’s three-coach MRTS trains, designed specifically for regional metro services. This local service will improve connectivity within Meerut, providing convenient travel options for city residents.
Trial Runs and Future Operations
In October, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) began trial runs on the Delhi–Meerut RRTS between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar, covering 13.3 km. This trial marked the entry of the “Namo Bharat” Alstom trains into Delhi.
NCRTC has not shared its final operational timeline, but it’s likely the line will open in two phases. The first phase, between Sahibabad and New Ashok Nagar, is expected to open by Q2 2025. The second phase, from New Ashok Nagar to Sarai Kale Khan, should open by mid-Q3 2025.
The progress on Delhi–Meerut RRTS Package 7 highlights significant advancements in this crucial transport project, bringing faster travel to the Delhi-Meerut corridor. Stay updated on further developments in our RRTS section.