Meerut Metro to be fastest in India at 120 kmph; 12 station, 21km corridor to be covered in around 30 minutes

MEERUT: The upcoming Meerut Metro is set to become the fastest metro service in the country, with a maximum operational speed of 120 kmph, significantly reducing travel time across the city, an official said. The service will run along a 21-kilometre corridor between Meerut South and Modipuram, with 12 stations, and is expected to cover the entire stretch in around 30 minutes, including stoppages at all stations, the official said on Monday, according to news agency PTI. In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Meerut Metro will operate on the same tracks and infrastructure as the semi-high-speed Namo Bharat trains, creating an integrated transport model that combines regional rapid transit with city metro services, the official said. According to the official, the metro will feature modern stainless-steel trainsets with a lightweight design and a distinctive fluorescent green, blue and orange colour scheme. The three-coach trains are energy-efficient, fitted with regenerative braking systems, and compatible with Automatic Train Protection and Automatic Train Operation technologies, he added. Each fully air-conditioned train will have a capacity of over 700 passengers, including 173 seated commuters, and will provide a mix of transverse and longitudinal cushioned seating. Luggage racks, USB charging ports, and reserved seating for women, senior citizens and passengers with disabilities have also been provided, the official said. He further said that safety and accessibility have been incorporated into the system’s design, with CCTV surveillance across stations and trains, platform screen doors at all stations, and universal access features such as lifts, wheelchair spaces and dedicated areas for stretchers. The Meerut Metro is expected to improve daily commuting, strengthen connectivity and boost economic and social activity in the city, the official said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon inaugurate the metro services, making Meerut the fifth city in Uttar Pradesh to have a metro network. Before the launch of the Meerut Metro, the highest operational speed on an Indian metro corridor was 110 kmph on the Delhi Airport Express Line.