The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) celebrated 'Namo Bharat Diwas 2026' marking three successful years of Namo Bharat rapid rail operations. The event was attended by Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs and Power Shri Manohar Lal, Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Shri Tokhan Sahu, Secretary of Department of Capital Development and NCRTC Chairperson Smt. D. Thara, and Secretary of Department of Urban Development Shri Satendra Singh, with Managing Director Shri Shalabh Goel and senior officials welcoming the dignitaries.
Since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 20, 2023, the 82-km-long Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor has recorded over 4.5 crore passenger journeys, demonstrating growing public trust in modern transportation. Operations began with the 17-km Priority Section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot in October 2023, with the entire corridor operationalized in phases and formally dedicated to the nation by the Prime Minister on February 22, 2026, along with Meerut Metro.
Namo Bharat currently serves over 1.1 lakh commuters daily and recently achieved its highest-ever single-day ridership of approximately 1.68 lakh passengers. The system provides fast, frequent, and reliable services that improve access to workplaces, educational institutions, and economic centers. Two additional priority corridors (Delhi-Panipat-Karnal and Delhi-Gurugram-Behror) are likely to receive approval soon, while two other corridors (Ghaziabad-Jewar and Noida-Faridabad-Gurgaon) are in the Detailed Project Report stage.
The celebration highlighted key initiatives including multimodal connectivity enhancements, first- and last-mile connectivity improvements, and sustainability projects such as Solar on Track and the development of a 110 MW captive solar power plant to promote environmental and financial sustainability. The event also featured the Annual NCRTC Awards recognizing employees for exemplary performance, dedication, and commitment to excellence, along with cultural performances of music and dance.