Two new Namo Bharat corridors may expand rapid-rail links across Delhi-NCR

Two proposed Namo Bharat regional rapid-transit corridors linking Delhi with parts of Haryana and Rajasthan are awaiting formal approval, according to the National Capital Region Transport Corporation.

The priority proposals are the Delhi-Panipat-Karnal corridor and the Delhi-Gurugram-Behror corridor. The projects are intended to strengthen regional connectivity and provide additional public-transport options for commuters travelling between the capital and cities beyond the existing Delhi-Meerut route.

The proposed Delhi-Panipat-Karnal corridor is approximately 136 km long and is planned to connect Delhi with Sonipat, Gannaur, Samalkha, Panipat and Karnal, reported The Financial Express.

The second priority corridor forms part of a broader proposed Delhi-Alwar rapid-rail link, which is planned to extend through Gurugram and towards Shahjahanpur, Neemrana, Behror and Alwar in Rajasthan. The full proposed Delhi-Alwar corridor is approximately 196 km long; this figure should not be interpreted as the length of the Delhi-Gurugram-Behror priority section alone.

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has indicated that the two priority corridors could receive further consideration for approval. However, both projects remain subject to formal clearances. Final station locations, alignments and construction schedules have not been confirmed.

NCRTC is also preparing detailed project reports for two additional proposed corridors: Ghaziabad-Jewar and Noida-Faridabad-Gurugram.

The proposals follow the expansion of the operational Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor, which has recorded more than 4.5 crore passenger journeys since services began in October 2023, according to figures cited in the October 19 report.

The operational corridor covers approximately 82 km and connects Delhi with Ghaziabad and Meerut. NCRTC has reported daily ridership of more than 1.1 lakh passengers.

The proposed extensions are intended to strengthen connections between employment centres, residential areas and regional cities while reducing dependence on private vehicles for longer journeys.

However, the new routes should not be described as sanctioned construction projects. Their next stages depend on approval, further planning and confirmation of their final alignments.