Namo Bharat hits 1.25 lakh passengers in single day

The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor recorded its highest-ever single-day ridership on Monday, with around 1.25 lakh passengers using the service, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) said in a statement on Tuesday.

The transit agency said approximately 1,25,500 commuters travelled on the corridor on Monday, surpassing previous ridership figures. On average, around one lakh passengers are using the service daily, it said.

NCRTC attributed the growing ridership to reduced travel time, reliability of train operations and prevailing heatwave conditions, saying that the service is increasingly being used by office-goers, students and other daily commuters travelling between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut.

According to the corporation, train operations on the corridor are maintaining nearly 99 per cent punctuality, helping passengers reach their destinations on time while avoiding road traffic congestion. Among the busiest stations on the corridor are Sarai Kale Khan, New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar in Delhi, along with Ghaziabad and Begumpul stations in Uttar Pradesh.

NCRTC said these stations account for more than 40 per cent of the total ridership due to their connectivity with Metro services, railways, inter-state bus terminals and city bus networks.

The corporation also highlighted the role of the local Metro services operating on the same infrastructure in Meerut, saying that the arrangement has improved intra-city mobility and enabled seamless travel for commuters. The increase in ridership comes amid prevailing heatwave conditions across Delhi-NCR, where temperatures have remained above 40 degrees Celsius in recent days, it said. The NCRTC said the fully air-conditioned trains have provided a comfortable travel option during the summer months.

To cater to rising demands, the corporation recently introduced 18 additional train trips during the peak hours between Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut South stations. The additional services operate in the morning and evening peak periods, it said.

The NCRTC said the continued rise in passenger numbers indicates that the Namo Bharat service is becoming an increasingly important mode of public transport for daily commuters in the National Capital Region.