World Bank delegation visits NCRTC to discuss future collaborations on RRTS Corridors

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): A high-level delegation from the World Bank recently visited the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) corporate office to explore opportunities for further collaboration on urban transit projects, with a primary focus on the financing and development of the upcoming Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridors.

The delegation, led by Pankaj Gupta, the Regional Director for Infrastructure at the World Bank, engaged in detailed discussions with the NCRTC team, headed by Managing Director Mr. Shalabh Goel. The meeting addressed ongoing and future collaborative efforts to enhance urban transit infrastructure within the National Capital Region (NCR).

The World Bank, a major multilateral development bank sanctioned by the Government of India, has been instrumental in funding the RRTS corridor between Delhi, Gurugram, and the Southern New Bypass (SNB). This visit highlighted the continued partnership between the World Bank and NCRTC, which has previously seen collaborative efforts on various fronts. These include studies on providing logistics services via the RRTS corridors and exploring the potential for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) along the forthcoming routes.

The discussions underscored the importance of the World Bank’s support in not only financing but also in leveraging global expertise to attract additional capital and partners. The Bank has already engaged in four advanced joint missions with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), demonstrating a strong commitment to the successful realization of the RRTS project.

During their visit, the World Bank delegation commended NCRTC for its advanced technological implementations in the RRTS project. They expressed particular admiration for NCRTC’s progress on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor, noting that the project has been meeting its targeted timelines. This achievement is especially noteworthy given the scale and complexity of such infrastructure undertakings.

The delegation was also impressed by NCRTC’s emphasis on seamless multimodal integration at various RRTS stations, which is pivotal for enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.

The World Bank delegation recognized NCRTC’s substantial expertise and robust knowledge base in urban transit, which could serve as a valuable resource for other organizations engaged in similar projects. The delegation expressed a strong interest in exploring further collaborative efforts with NCRTC, both within India and on a global scale. This interest marks a significant step toward deepening the partnership and advancing future urban transit developments.

The RRTS initiative is a critical component of the broader strategy to address congestion and air pollution in the NCR. It aligns with the ‘Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for Air Pollution Control in Delhi & NCR’ and follows recommendations from the ‘High-Powered Committee on Decongesting Traffic in Delhi.’ Out of eight identified corridors, three have been prioritized for Phase I: the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB RRTS Corridor, and the Delhi-Panipat RRTS Corridor.

Currently, Namo Bharat train services are operational on a 42 km stretch of the first RRTS corridor between Delhi and Ghaziabad. The entire 82 km corridor is on track to be completed by the projected deadline of June 2025.

This visit by the World Bank delegation underscores a pivotal moment in the development of urban transit infrastructure in the NCR, highlighting both the progress made and the future potential for continued collaboration and innovation.