By Admin 
The dream of high speed rail travel between Delhi, Meerut, Haridwar and Rishikesh now seems to be getting closer to reality. A big update has come out regarding the plan to extend the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor to Haridwar and Rishikesh. The Uttarakhand government has indicated that the survey required to prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project will be approved soon. After this, work on this ambitious project will be able to progress rapidly.
National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Managing Director Shalabh Goyal had sent a reminder letter to the Uttarakhand government on June 9. After this, Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan has given a positive response. It is believed that the state government may soon issue permission for the survey, due to which the technical process of the project will start.
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UP has already given approval
According to officials associated with the project, the Uttar Pradesh government has already given its written consent for the DPR survey. Now only the formal approval of Uttarakhand government is left. As soon as this permission is received, NCRTC will start technical, geographical and feasibility survey of the entire proposed route.
According to the initial plan, Namo Bharat train will be extended beyond Modipuram station of Meerut to Haridwar and Rishikesh. The total length of this new rail network will be approximately 150 kilometers.
Of this, about 72 km will be in Uttar Pradesh and 78 km will be in Uttarakhand. This extension will not only connect the two states in a better way, but will also provide fast and modern transportation facilities to millions of passengers.
Which cities will get direct benefit
The proposed corridor will start from Sarai Kale Khan station in Delhi and reach Ghaziabad and Meerut. After this the train will pass through important cities like Daurala, Khatauli, Modipuram, Muzaffarnagar, Purkaji, Roorkee, Haridwar and Rishikesh.
With this, many major cities of Western Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand will be connected to the high-speed regional rail network for the first time. People traveling daily, businessmen and tourists will get direct benefits from it.
Big relief for religious travelers and tourists
Haridwar and Rishikesh are among the most prominent religious and tourist destinations of the country. Every year lakhs of devotees reach here to take Ganga bath, Chardham Yatra and participate in religious events.
After the launch of Namo Bharat train, passengers coming from Delhi and NCR will get relief from long traffic jams and hours of travel. Tourism activities are also expected to get a boost due to fast, safe and comfortable travel.
At present, it usually takes 5 to 6 hours to reach Rishikesh from Delhi by road. This time increases even more on holidays and weekends. But after the operation of Namo Bharat train, this distance can be covered in about two and a half to three hours.
The proposed maximum speed of the train is said to be 160 kilometers per hour. This will significantly reduce travel time and passengers will get faster connectivity.
Although the final fare has not been decided yet, but according to the initial estimates based on the distance, the standard class fare from Delhi to Rishikesh can be between Rs 450 to Rs 520.
Whereas passengers traveling in premium coach may have to spend around Rs 900 to 1000. The final fare will be decided only after the approval of the project and the operational policy.
Chief Minister Dhami was continuously lobbying
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami had been demanding the expansion of this project for a long time. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Housing and Urban Development Minister Manohar Lal and requested to extend Namo Bharat service to Haridwar and Rishikesh. Now the positive signals being received at the level of Central and State Government are being considered as a big success of the efforts of Chief Minister Dhami.
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According to Chief Secretary Anand Bardhan, the Urban Development Ministry of the Central Government has positively accepted the proposal of expanding the corridor up to Haridwar-Rishikesh. The ministry has sought formal consent from the state government to prepare the feasibility report. Once this process is completed, the project will reach the next stage.
If the survey and other necessary processes are completed on time, the entire nature of travel between Delhi, Meerut, Haridwar and Rishikesh may change in the coming years.
With better connectivity, shorter travel time and modern transport system, this project can be included among the most important regional rail projects of North India. This is also expected to give new impetus to religious tourism, employment and regional development.