Meerut Namo Bharat train crosses 1 lakh riders on first full day after launch

As passengers flocked to the Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) on its first day of operation, “Bharat Mata ki Jai” echoed inside the buses and NCRTC crossed the 1 lakh mark, recording its highest ever number of passengers on Monday, February 23, 2026.

This comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially inaugurated the entire 82-kilometre Delhi-Meerut corridor and the new Meerut Metro link; this was the first full day of commercial services along the entire route.

The National Capital Region Transport Corporation had earlier said: “On Monday, NCRTC expects the total passenger count to exceed 1 lakh passengers as the last train is scheduled to depart at 10 pm.”

The company said this was the highest number of passengers ever recorded on the corridor.

A video shot from Begumpul station in Meerut showed that passengers are eager to experience the new service. Earlier in the day, large crowds were seen gathering in the large passenger hall, and many families and young people were seen taking selfies and photos inside the train and station.

In another video, passengers chanted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” as they boarded the Meerut Fast train for the first time, reflecting the festive atmosphere among the passengers.

As the RRTS train approached, some passengers were seen scattering flower petals on the platform, while others were seen waving enthusiastically.

Images showed orderly queues at ticket booths and platform entrances, with station staff assisting first-time riders and explaining safety protocols.

Mr Modi inaugurated the remaining sections of RRTS on Sunday; The 5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and New Ashok Nagar and the 21 km stretch from South Meerut to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

Designed for speeds of up to 180 km per hour, the Namo Bharat system aims to significantly reduce travel time between Delhi and major urban centers such as Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Modinagar and Meerut.