State govt to extend RRTS corridor

Tribune News Service

Karnal, January 7

Fulfilling the long-pending demand of residents of Karnal city, the state government has decided to extend the Sarai Kale Khan Delhi-Panipat Corridor of Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) up to Karnal with a stoppage at Gharaunda.

The decision was taken on late Monday evening during a meeting between Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and the authorities of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), an implementing agency of the project, in Chandigarh.

The authorities claim the corridor will not only cut down travel time, but will also bring environmental and economic benefits to the National Capital Region (NCR).

The residents had raised the demand at several platforms, including with the Chief Minister and former Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu.

The residents are elated and hopeful that the project will reduce the burden on National Highway-44 and the railways. “We are happy that the Chief Minister has considered our demand and extended the corridor up to Karnal. It will save our time taken to reach Delhi,” said Rajiv Kumar, a social activist.

Earlier, the length of the corridor between Delhi and Panipat was 103-km, with 17 stations, including Sarai Kale Khan, and at an estimated cost of Rs29,000 crore. However, with the announcement, the length of the corridor has been increased to 130-km.

“The Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, has directed to extend the project up to Karnal,” said Sudhir Sharma, Chief Public Relation Officer of the National Capital Region Transport Corporation.

The decision of the state government will enhance transport facilities throughout the National Capital Region, including Karnal. The state’s share in the SKK-Panipat RRTS corridor is over Rs5,000, which is 16 per cent of the total cost.

The Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, was also apprised that under the Functional Plan on Transport for NCR-2032, eight corridors of Regional Rapid Transit System will be constructed. In the first phase, three corridors will be constructed, namely, Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Panipat and Delhi-SNB.

Earlier, Panipat North station was the last station, but now, Karnal will be the last station. The authorities told the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that the Regional Rapid Transit System stations would be inter-operable.