Delhi-Gurugram-SNB rail corridor gets nod

The detailed project report was approved by the NCRTC Board

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) Board on Friday approved the construction of the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB (Shahjahanpur-Neemrana-Behror Urban Complex) Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.

The corridor, which constitutes the first installment of the larger Delhi-Gurugram-Alwar corridor, seeks to reduce the travel time between Sarai Kale Khan and the SNB Urban Complex which are 106 km apart to an estimated 70 minutes, the NCRTC said in a statement.

“The NCRTC Board, chaired by Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in its meeting held on Thursday, has approved the DPR [Detailed Project Report] of the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB RRTS corridor,” the NCRTC stated.

One of the three RRTS corridors prioritised for implementation — the Delhi-Gurugram-Alwar — is planned to be completed in three stages, the NCRTC said.

Out of the eight identified corridors to connect various NCR towns with high-speed rail commute under the Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032, three have been prioritised for implementation in Phase-1 by the Planning Commission appointed Task Force, the NCRTC stated. These include Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Gurugram-Alwar and Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat.

“This is the second RRTS corridor, which has been approved by NCRTC Board after Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut...The 106 km long, Delhi-Gurugram-SNB corridor will be elevated for about 71 km [11 stations], the remaining 35 km [5 stations] will be constructed underground, mostly in Delhi and Gurugram,” the NCRTC said.

In stage I, the Delhi – Gurugram – Rewari – SNB Urban Complex will be constructed. In Stage II, it will be extended from SNB Urban Complex to Sotanala while in Stage III, the line will be further extended from the SNB Urban Complex to Alwar.

Construction cost

It is planned to be constructed in about five years’ time excluding one year of pre-construction activities at a base construction cost of ₹24,975 crore, funded by Government of India (20%), concerned State governments (20%) and bilateral or multilateral funding agencies (60%).

The corridor will converge with other RRTS corridors in Sarai Kale Khan and will be interoperable, facilitating commuters’ movement from one corridor to another without the need to change trains, the NCRTC added.