New Delhi, October 19, 2026: Namo Bharat rapid rail services have recorded more than 4.5 crore passenger journeys since their launch in October 2023, with daily ridership now exceeding 1.1 lakh on the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor, according to figures highlighted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs during the service’s third-anniversary celebrations.
The 82-kilometre corridor has also recorded a peak single-day ridership of approximately 1.68 lakh passenger journeys, highlighting the scale of usage of the regional rapid rail network.
The figures were presented during Namo Bharat Diwas 2026, held in New Delhi on October 17, ahead of the third anniversary of the service’s inauguration on October 20. The ministry released details of the event on October 18.
Namo Bharat operations began on October 20, 2023, with the opening of the 17-kilometre priority section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot. Services were subsequently expanded in phases along the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut route.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the entire 82-kilometre corridor to the nation on February 22, 2026, alongside Meerut Metro.
The cumulative figure of 4.5 crore represents passenger journeys rather than individual passengers. It also covers a period during which different sections of the corridor became operational in stages.
Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Manohar Lal highlighted the ridership milestone during the anniversary event, emphasising the role of regional transport connectivity in improving access to employment, education and economic opportunities.
The event was attended by Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Chairperson D. Thara, NCRTC Managing Director Shalabh Goel and other senior officials.
Alongside the ridership figures, NCRTC outlined initiatives aimed at improving connections between Namo Bharat stations and other modes of transport.
These include efforts to strengthen multimodal integration and first- and last-mile connectivity, helping commuters travel between stations and their final destinations.
The corporation also highlighted its Solar on Track initiative and the development of a 110-megawatt captive solar power plant. However, the ministry’s announcement did not provide a commissioning date or confirm that the plant had begun generating electricity.
The anniversary event also included updates on plans to expand the Namo Bharat network through additional regional corridors.
According to the ministry, approval is expected soon for the proposed Delhi–Panipat–Karnal and Delhi–Gurugram–Behror corridors. However, the announcement did not confirm that either project had received formal approval.
Two other proposed routes, Ghaziabad–Jewar and Noida–Faridabad–Gurgaon, remain at the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage, involving project planning and technical assessments ahead of further decisions.
These proposed corridors are separate from the operational Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut route, and the ministry did not announce construction commencement dates for them.
The event also featured the annual NCRTC Awards, recognising employees involved in the development and operation of Namo Bharat services.
The ridership milestone comes as the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor approaches three years since its first section opened and marks several months since the entire 82-kilometre route entered service.
While cumulative passenger journeys on the existing corridor have exceeded 4.5 crore, further expansion of the regional rapid rail network remains dependent on approvals and project planning for the proposed routes.
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