The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is a joint venture company of the Government of India and the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. The NCRTC is mandated with implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project across the National Capital Region (NCR), ensuring a balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.
The Union Cabinet approved constitution of the NCRTC under the Companies Act, 1956, in July 2013 for designing, developing, implementing, financing, operating, and maintaining the RRTS in the NCR to provide comfortable and fast transit to NCR towns and to meet the high growth in transport demand. Accordingly, the NCRTC was incorporated on 21 August 2013. Vinay Kumar Singh was appointed as the first regular managing director of the NCRTC in July 2016.
Out of the eight identified RRTS corridors, the following three were prioritized for implementation by the planning commission:
• Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut
• Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar
• Delhi-Panipat
The Union Cabinet approved constitution of the NCRTC under the Companies Act, 1956, in July 2013 for designing, developing, implementing, financing, operating, and maintaining the RRTS in the NCR to provide comfortable and fast transit to NCR towns and to meet the high growth in transport demand. Accordingly, the NCRTC was incorporated on 21 August 2013. Vinay Kumar Singh was appointed as the first regular managing director of the NCRTC in July 2016.
Out of the eight identified RRTS corridors, the following three were prioritized for implementation by the planning commission:
• Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut
• Delhi-Gurugram-SNB-Alwar
• Delhi-Panipat
RRTS is a rail-based semi-high speed, high frequency, high capacity, comfortable, air-conditioned, reliable, and safe commuter service connecting regional nodes.
• Design speed – 180 km/h, Operational speed – 160 km/h, Average speed of 100 km/h – Delhi to Meerut in less than 55 minutes (three times the speed of Metro)
• Train every ~5–10 minutes; serving traffic nodes at every 5–10 km
• ETCS-2 Signalling System along with centralized operations control will ensure that train services will not be affected, even during extreme weather conditions.
• RRTS is different from conventional railway as it will provide reliable, high frequency, point-to-point regional travel at high speed along a dedicated pathway.
• RRTS is different from Metro as it caters to passengers looking to travel relatively longer distances with fewer stops and at a higher speed. Metro rail projects generally serve the need of intra-city movement and operate within metropolitan cities like Delhi, Chennai, or Kochi; RRTS will connect suburban and urban centres in the NCR and will run from one city centre to another, thus providing a seamless transit network to the entire region.
• Aerodynamic trains with airline-like transverse seating arrangements.
• Design speed – 180 km/h, Operational speed – 160 km/h, Average speed of 100 km/h – Delhi to Meerut in less than 55 minutes (three times the speed of Metro)
• Train every ~5–10 minutes; serving traffic nodes at every 5–10 km
• ETCS-2 Signalling System along with centralized operations control will ensure that train services will not be affected, even during extreme weather conditions.
• RRTS is different from conventional railway as it will provide reliable, high frequency, point-to-point regional travel at high speed along a dedicated pathway.
• RRTS is different from Metro as it caters to passengers looking to travel relatively longer distances with fewer stops and at a higher speed. Metro rail projects generally serve the need of intra-city movement and operate within metropolitan cities like Delhi, Chennai, or Kochi; RRTS will connect suburban and urban centres in the NCR and will run from one city centre to another, thus providing a seamless transit network to the entire region.
• Aerodynamic trains with airline-like transverse seating arrangements.
Unique aspects of RRTS
Interoperability
Waiting time and number of interchanges are two major deterrents in the adoption of any public transport system. To provide seamless movement to commuters, the three RRTS corridors of phase 1, i.e., Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut; Delhi – Panipat; and Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar will be integrated at Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan and remain interoperable. Trains will move from one corridor to another, facilitating commuter travel from one corridor station to another without train changes, thus motivating them to leave their private vehicles and switch to the RRTS.
Multimodal integration
RRTS stations will be integrated with various modes of public transport systems like airports, Indian Railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and Delhi Metro stations, wherever possible. This integration will facilitate seamless movement of commuters from one mode of public transport to another and encourage the use of public transport. While the RRTS will act as a backbone for regional transportation, Delhi Metro lines will complement it by providing feeder dispersal services. The Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station will be a mega-terminal where all three Phase-I RRTS corridors will merge.
Option of business class: Each RRTS train will have a separate business coach. This will encourage business class commuters to switch to public transport for intercity travel.
Interoperability
Waiting time and number of interchanges are two major deterrents in the adoption of any public transport system. To provide seamless movement to commuters, the three RRTS corridors of phase 1, i.e., Delhi – Ghaziabad – Meerut; Delhi – Panipat; and Delhi – Gurugram – SNB – Alwar will be integrated at Delhi's Sarai Kale Khan and remain interoperable. Trains will move from one corridor to another, facilitating commuter travel from one corridor station to another without train changes, thus motivating them to leave their private vehicles and switch to the RRTS.
Multimodal integration
RRTS stations will be integrated with various modes of public transport systems like airports, Indian Railway stations, inter-state bus terminals, and Delhi Metro stations, wherever possible. This integration will facilitate seamless movement of commuters from one mode of public transport to another and encourage the use of public transport. While the RRTS will act as a backbone for regional transportation, Delhi Metro lines will complement it by providing feeder dispersal services. The Sarai Kale Khan RRTS station will be a mega-terminal where all three Phase-I RRTS corridors will merge.
Option of business class: Each RRTS train will have a separate business coach. This will encourage business class commuters to switch to public transport for intercity travel.
Comfortable travel: The air-conditioned RRTS coaches will have transverse seating arrangement with an overhead space for luggage, a wi-fi connection, among other modern amenities.
Women's coach : Each RRTS train will have a separate coach for women travellers, just like the Delhi Metro.
Universal accessibility: The entire infrastructure of the RRTS, including stations and trains, will be designed with universal accessibility in mind.
Need for RRTS project
The National Capital Region (NCR) has grown over the years to cover parts of states around Delhi, namely Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Today, the total area falling under the NCR is about 55,083 km [2], with a total population of over 46 million (4.6 crores) (2011 census). The region has seen a decadal population growth of ~24% between 2001 and 2011. The entire NCR is an urban agglomeration with an urbanization rate of about 62%.
Further, in 2007, the number of passenger vehicles crossing Delhi borders breached 1,100,000 (eleven lakhs) per day. Rail-based inter- regional commuter demand in the NCR is estimated to grow to 1.7 million passengers per day by 2032. This has triggered the need for an effective regional public transport system.
Women's coach : Each RRTS train will have a separate coach for women travellers, just like the Delhi Metro.
Universal accessibility: The entire infrastructure of the RRTS, including stations and trains, will be designed with universal accessibility in mind.
Need for RRTS project
The National Capital Region (NCR) has grown over the years to cover parts of states around Delhi, namely Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Today, the total area falling under the NCR is about 55,083 km [2], with a total population of over 46 million (4.6 crores) (2011 census). The region has seen a decadal population growth of ~24% between 2001 and 2011. The entire NCR is an urban agglomeration with an urbanization rate of about 62%.
Further, in 2007, the number of passenger vehicles crossing Delhi borders breached 1,100,000 (eleven lakhs) per day. Rail-based inter- regional commuter demand in the NCR is estimated to grow to 1.7 million passengers per day by 2032. This has triggered the need for an effective regional public transport system.
Benefits of RRTS project
Enhanced economic activities
A high-speed, comfortable, and affordable mode of transport such as the RRTS has the potential to change the movement patterns of people and usher in economic development across the region. With reduced travel times, the overall productivity of the region would increase, leading to improved overall economic activity and balanced economic development. The RRTS would lead to a polycentric economic development in a uniform manner across the region.
Lower emissions
With a reduced number of private vehicles and a shift towards a clean transportation system like the RRTS, fuel consumption is expected to go down. Low fuel consumption means lower emissions and less pollution.
Easing of road congestion
The RRTS has the capacity to ferry a large number of people each hour. By shifting a large amount of traffic from road to rail, it could free up road space and ease congestion on highways across the NCR. The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Gurugram RRTS corridor alone is expected to remove over one lakh vehicles from the road, easing overall congestion.
Improved access to jobs and facilities
The three corridors of Phase 1 alone are expected to generate 21,000 direct jobs. The RRTS would open up new markets and opportunities for people by connecting them through a high-speed network. The faster commute will allow people to have access to better facilities such as healthcare, education, etc.
Enhanced economic activities
A high-speed, comfortable, and affordable mode of transport such as the RRTS has the potential to change the movement patterns of people and usher in economic development across the region. With reduced travel times, the overall productivity of the region would increase, leading to improved overall economic activity and balanced economic development. The RRTS would lead to a polycentric economic development in a uniform manner across the region.
Lower emissions
With a reduced number of private vehicles and a shift towards a clean transportation system like the RRTS, fuel consumption is expected to go down. Low fuel consumption means lower emissions and less pollution.
Easing of road congestion
The RRTS has the capacity to ferry a large number of people each hour. By shifting a large amount of traffic from road to rail, it could free up road space and ease congestion on highways across the NCR. The Delhi–Ghaziabad–Gurugram RRTS corridor alone is expected to remove over one lakh vehicles from the road, easing overall congestion.
Improved access to jobs and facilities
The three corridors of Phase 1 alone are expected to generate 21,000 direct jobs. The RRTS would open up new markets and opportunities for people by connecting them through a high-speed network. The faster commute will allow people to have access to better facilities such as healthcare, education, etc.
Savings in travel cost and time
The high-speed journey through the RRTS will be offered at an affordable price, leading to savings on the part of commuters.
Reduced energy use
With a low land footprint and high throughput, implementation of the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor is expected to shift the modal share in favour of public transport from 37% to 63% in the region. A shift towards public transportation will reduce energy use by the transport sector in the National Capital Region. This would not only lead to reduced fuel consumption in the region, but also the country's import dependence on foreign oil.
Technology
The NCRTC is implementing a state-of-the-art rail-based rapid transit system in the NCR with a design speed of 180 km/h. Such a speed will necessarily require grade-separated tracks and the latest signalling and control systems, to ensure high throughput and safe operation. The rolling stock will be air-conditioned and have the capability of high acceleration and deceleration in a very short span. Traction power will be through a uniquely designed 25 kV flexible overhead catenary traction system for elevated stations and a rigid overhead catenary system for tunnels. Key technologies:
Ballastless track
Slab Track Austria system, recognized for providing excellent riding comfort even at high speeds of 180 km/h. These tracks are being used in India for the first time. The tracks are also preferred for a longer life span, with less maintenance requirement, and ease of replacement.
ETCS Level 2 signalling system
The ETCS Level-2 signalling system is used globally for high-speed railway transit. The system is equipped with modern signalling with virtual blocks & ATO functionality over LTE backbone is being used for the first time in India. A key feature of the RRTS is interoperability of all the corridors, and ETCS Level-2 makes this possible. The system can monitor train speed and direction, and provide operation directives using a radio block centre. Use of a virtual block facilitated by ETCS Level-2 signalling eliminates any possibility of train collision
The high-speed journey through the RRTS will be offered at an affordable price, leading to savings on the part of commuters.
Reduced energy use
With a low land footprint and high throughput, implementation of the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut RRTS corridor is expected to shift the modal share in favour of public transport from 37% to 63% in the region. A shift towards public transportation will reduce energy use by the transport sector in the National Capital Region. This would not only lead to reduced fuel consumption in the region, but also the country's import dependence on foreign oil.
Technology
The NCRTC is implementing a state-of-the-art rail-based rapid transit system in the NCR with a design speed of 180 km/h. Such a speed will necessarily require grade-separated tracks and the latest signalling and control systems, to ensure high throughput and safe operation. The rolling stock will be air-conditioned and have the capability of high acceleration and deceleration in a very short span. Traction power will be through a uniquely designed 25 kV flexible overhead catenary traction system for elevated stations and a rigid overhead catenary system for tunnels. Key technologies:
Ballastless track
Slab Track Austria system, recognized for providing excellent riding comfort even at high speeds of 180 km/h. These tracks are being used in India for the first time. The tracks are also preferred for a longer life span, with less maintenance requirement, and ease of replacement.
ETCS Level 2 signalling system
The ETCS Level-2 signalling system is used globally for high-speed railway transit. The system is equipped with modern signalling with virtual blocks & ATO functionality over LTE backbone is being used for the first time in India. A key feature of the RRTS is interoperability of all the corridors, and ETCS Level-2 makes this possible. The system can monitor train speed and direction, and provide operation directives using a radio block centre. Use of a virtual block facilitated by ETCS Level-2 signalling eliminates any possibility of train collision
SPEED – Systematic Program Evaluation for Efficient Delivery of project
SPEED is NCRTC's in-house sophisticated, robust, reliable, and user-friendly platform that leverages fundamental underlying technological frameworks such as JavaScript, PHP, etc. It is a monitoring and project management tool for reporting activities of pre-construction and construction phases of the RRTS.
Common Data Environment (CDE)
CDE is implemented for maintaining a common repository for all construction and pre-construction drawings and technical documents. It enables collaboration and sharing of updated information, documents, and drawings in real time to achieve a single source of truth across organisation, manage design, define and implement workflows, and monitor progress actions across the organisation.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based process that provides architecture, engineering, and construction professionals the insight and tools to more effectively plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. Project-related components like walls, doors, etc. are modelled in 3D by using various BIM software. Currently, all the stations are being designed and developed on the BIM platform. BIM offers a realistic 3D model, giving a true sense of how the actual structure will look.
Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
The CORS network system, including the control station, is being installed by the NCRTC to increase location accuracy in the Civil Construction Survey work. This system provides real-time precise coordinates for the measured locations and is capable of ensuring 5 – 10 mm accuracy in the location of points, whereas regular GPS can only provide location accuracy of up to 10 to 15 metres. This eliminates cumulative errors in civil construction and results in better alignment, acting as a life cycle management solution for the project.
SPEED is NCRTC's in-house sophisticated, robust, reliable, and user-friendly platform that leverages fundamental underlying technological frameworks such as JavaScript, PHP, etc. It is a monitoring and project management tool for reporting activities of pre-construction and construction phases of the RRTS.
Common Data Environment (CDE)
CDE is implemented for maintaining a common repository for all construction and pre-construction drawings and technical documents. It enables collaboration and sharing of updated information, documents, and drawings in real time to achieve a single source of truth across organisation, manage design, define and implement workflows, and monitor progress actions across the organisation.
Building Information Modelling (BIM)
BIM is an intelligent 3D model-based process that provides architecture, engineering, and construction professionals the insight and tools to more effectively plan, design, construct, and manage buildings and infrastructure. Project-related components like walls, doors, etc. are modelled in 3D by using various BIM software. Currently, all the stations are being designed and developed on the BIM platform. BIM offers a realistic 3D model, giving a true sense of how the actual structure will look.
Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS)
The CORS network system, including the control station, is being installed by the NCRTC to increase location accuracy in the Civil Construction Survey work. This system provides real-time precise coordinates for the measured locations and is capable of ensuring 5 – 10 mm accuracy in the location of points, whereas regular GPS can only provide location accuracy of up to 10 to 15 metres. This eliminates cumulative errors in civil construction and results in better alignment, acting as a life cycle management solution for the project.
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