Why in the News?

The inauguration of the first segment of India's Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), the country's inaugural mass rapid transit system designed for regional connectivity, will be officiated by the Prime Minister of India.

About the Regional Rapid Transit System:

• The RRTS is an integrated mass transit network with semi-high-speed rail connectivity at its core.
• It aims to promote "balanced and sustainable urban development" throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) by improving connectivity and access.
• The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), a joint venture of the Central government and the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, is building it.
• It is modeled after systems such as Paris' RER, Regional-Express trains in Germany and Austria, and SEPTA Regional Rail in the United States, among others.
• The project will develop eight corridors, three of which are currently under construction:
  • the 82-kilometer Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut,
  • the 164-kilometer Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar, and
  • the 103-kilometer Delhi-Panipat corridors
• The importance of this system:
• The RRTS network is faster when compared to metros
  • It will serve commuters who need to cover relatively longer distances across the NCR in a short amount of time.
• When compared to Indian Railways, the RRTS train will cover shorter distances but at a higher frequency and with greater comfort than the average railway coach.