The construction of the Rapid Rail (Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut) in the sections of national Capital has gathered speed as the implementing agency National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has floated tenders for the construction of the three stations — New Ashok Nagar, Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar — falling in the city.
The three stations will be the first Rapid Rail stations to be constructed in Delhi. Also, these stations will be heart (transport hub) of all the corridors as it will provide interconnections to all the corridors including Inter State Bus terminals (ISBT), Metro stations and connectivity to airport.
The civil construction work has already started and is underway on the 17km long priority section between Sahibabad to Duhai of 82 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) corridor.
According to officials, NCRTC has floated various tenders for the three priority sections of Delhi. In January, the bids has been invited for carrying out road widening work from New Ashok Nagar to Kondli Bridge for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor. "Road widening work is carried out to maintain a smooth flow of traffic even during construction barricading. People will have an extra lane once barricading is removed post-construction," said an official.
It has also started the work of the engagement of Detailed Design Consultant (DDC) for Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar RRTS stations including a Multimodal Integration scheme and setting up a stabling yard at Jungpura.
Bids have also been invited for carrying out initial pile load tests in the Delhi section from Sarai Kale Khan to Anand Vihar and connecting line to stabling Yard at Jungpura. The pile load test is done to check the load-bearing capacity of the soil.
Tenders have also been invited for design and construction of tunnels of Delhi portion by Tunnel Boring Machine from New Ashok Nagar Ramp, New Delhi to Sahibabad Ramp in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh (UP).
Officials said that the construction of underground line is a time-consuming process. "NCRTC is committed for timely completion of the project by taking various measures including early completion of the tender process."
It has floated another tender for the construction of depot cum workshop near Duhai RRTS Station of the corridor. Depot is an essential requirement for running RRTS services.
Further, the officials added, around 11.53 km stretch of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor will be underground in which 5.8 km long section will start from New Ashok Nagar RRTS station (Elevated) to stretch before BEL, Ghaziabad will be underground. While, the remaining 5.73km long section after Brahmapuri Meerut Metro Station (Elevated) to Begumpul RRTS station (before MES Colony Metro Station -Elevated) will be underground.
