New Delhi: The long-awaited Sarai Kale Khan station, part of the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), remains unopened despite being fully ready for operation. Once hailed as a transformative project for Delhi’s daily commuters, it has now become emblematic of repeated delays and bureaucratic indecision.
Originally scheduled for launch in June 2025, the station has missed multiple deadlines — first in June, then on September 17, and later September 30. Each time, the inauguration was postponed, reportedly awaiting a formal opening by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Officials from the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) have confirmed that the station is operationally ready and only requires the formal nod for commencement.
The delay has dampened expectations for one of the flagship infrastructure projects under India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail network — the Namo Bharat corridor between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram.
During recent full-length trial runs, Namo Bharat trains completed the 82-kilometre journey between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram in under one hour, halting at every station en route and achieving a maximum operational speed of 160 kmph.
However, the Sarai Kale Khan interchange has long been a sticking point in the project’s execution. In 2023, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) recommended building an elevated metro station at the site for smoother integration with the RRTS network. The Delhi government, however, opposed this proposal, insisting instead on an underground metro station, leading to prolonged disputes, stalled approvals, and cascading construction delays.
As Delhi continues to await the station’s inauguration, commuters and infrastructure experts alike are calling for faster resolution and coordination between central and state agencies to ensure that the RRTS network can finally begin its full-scale operations — a move that promises to redefine intercity travel in the National Capital Region.
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