News: Full Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor Opens-22-02-2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 22 inaugurated the remaining sections of India’s first Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS): a 5 km stretch between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi and a 21 km section from Meerut South to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

The 55 km, 11-station stretch already running had lifted housing demand in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar. Land rates in Meerut rose from Rs 8,000-12,000 per sq yard to Rs 12,000-20,000.

Ankita Sood, National Director - Research, Knight Frank India, said RRTS and Metro connectivity should raise Meerut’s standing as an emerging market and unlock large land banks for developers. For many buyers shorter commutes outweigh higher prices, making projects along the corridor more attractive, and people priced out of Delhi may now consider the city. Price movement will depend on how fast new supply arrives. Residential and retail should gain most in the near term, with commercial property responding more gradually.

Prashant Thakur, Executive Director & Head - Research and Advisory, ANAROCK Group, called the opening of the Sarai Kale Khan RRTS and Meerut Metro a turning point. Prices near stations such as Modipuram and Shatabdi Nagar have already risen 30-60%, with Delhi under 60 minutes away. National developers are drawn to integrated Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones, and he expects steady capital growth and a shift towards upscale gated townships as Meerut becomes a "bedroom community" for Delhi professionals. Modipuram and Pallavpuram, with projected growth of 30-40%, lead the beneficiaries; Shatabdi Nagar, Partapur and Shastri Nagar are the top investment destinations.

Developers are already launching projects. Paras Buildtech has introduced Paras Estate near Meerut Bypass Road, with 220 residential plots of about 271 sq yards each and direct access to the Delhi-Meerut Expressway and the RRTS.

Samir Jasuja, founder and CEO of PropEquity, said full operation and wider metro links will sharply cut travel time and position Ghaziabad and Meerut as high-potential residential and commercial destinations. Prices have risen 54% in Meerut and 131% in Ghaziabad over four years. Ghaziabad is turning premium, while Meerut should see new development corridors that curb migration to Delhi. He stressed that TOD promotes high-density, mixed-use, walkable neighbourhoods around stations, improving land use and supporting sustainable growth.

Santosh Agarwal, CFO and Executive Director, Alpha Corp Development Limited, expects stronger primary demand, faster inventory absorption and higher land and home values in transit-linked micro-markets as Delhi’s viable residential catchment widens. Ashish Agarwal, Director, AU Real Estate, anticipates a clear rise in enquiries, conversions and prices, saying these areas will no longer be seen as distant suburbs.

Planning around stations

According to Hindustan Times, the Meerut Development Authority has earmarked 3,273 hectares for TOD projects under Master Plan 2031, of which 2,442 hectares form seven TOD zones and two special development areas around RRTS stations. These are conceived as self-sufficient nodes with housing, commercial space, education, healthcare and retail. A flagship is the 350-hectare greenfield New Meerut Township near Meerut South station.

Ghaziabad’s GIS-based Integrated Master Plan 2031, covering Ghaziabad, Loni, Modinagar and Muradnagar, enlarges the development area by 27% to over 32,000 hectares and marks TOD zones and special development areas along major expressways.

What commuters say

A Knight Frank India survey, "Rapid Regional Transit System: Testing the Commuters’ Pulse", notes that regional mobility still depends on roads and conventional rail that cannot keep up with expanding urban regions, widening the gap between where people live and work. RRTS can cut travel time, enlarge labour markets and unlock peripheral cities.

It found 67% of working respondents willing to invest in property along RRTS corridors. Perceived commercial growth was the strongest driver: those who saw rising commercial activity were over 10 times more likely to consider investing, and visible construction and mixed-use development made respondents nearly eight times more likely, suggesting on-ground progress matters more than announcements. Also, 32% of aspirational RRTS users living in NCR would move to smaller cities if connectivity came with adequate amenities.

The survey cited international parallels: Germany’s Cologne-Frankfurt ICE corridor let smaller towns develop regional offices and industrial clusters; Japan’s Shinkansen cities Kanazawa and Nagano grew tourism, services and light industry; and France’s TGV helped Lyon, Avignon and Rennes build specialised economies.