Whalesbook
Project Revival Confirmed
The critical rapid rail corridor linking Ghaziabad to Noida International Airport at Jewar, via Greater Noida West, is officially back on track. Officials from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) confirmed the Ghaziabad route will proceed without modifications after a brief period of uncertainty last month. This significant infrastructure project, initially cleared by the Uttar Pradesh government, had explored alternative alignments but ultimately settled on the original plan.
Corridor Details and Cost
The confirmed alignment will proceed as per the Detailed Project Report (DPR) prepared by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). This ambitious project is estimated to cost ₹20,360 crore and is slated for completion within five years. The corridor will comprise 22 stations, a mix of rapid rail and metro services, running mostly elevated. It will commence from the Ghaziabad RRTS station on the Delhi-Meerut corridor, passing through key areas like Siddharth Vihar, Greater Noida West, Knowledge Park 5, Surajpur, and Alpha-1, before terminating at Noida International Airport.
Integration and Previous Hurdles
A key aspect of the DPR involves absorbing approximately 10 km of the proposed Aqua Line extension from Noida Sector 51 to Knowledge Park 5, including six stations, into the new RRTS corridor. An integrated station is planned at Char Murti Chowk. While the project faced objections from the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) concerning direct Delhi connectivity and ridership projections, YEIDA has provided clarifications. The authority emphasizes the corridor's design for seamless multimodal integration with other existing and planned transport networks.
Broader NCR Connectivity
Beyond the Ghaziabad-Jewar link, YEIDA is also planning a separate 60-km corridor from IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon to Surajpur via Faridabad. This initiative aims to enhance overall rapid transit connectivity across the National Capital Region. Officials believe these corridors, working in tandem, will significantly reduce travel times to the new airport and alleviate traffic congestion, supporting the region's planned urban and industrial growth. The broader Namo Bharat initiative, which this corridor falls under, aims to connect multiple cities in NCR with high-speed rail, promoting greener transportation and reducing vehicle emissions.