Namo Bharat Ridership Jumps 10% As Delhi-NCR Heatwave Pushes More Commuters Towards Public Transport
Namo Bharat Ridership Jumps 10% As Delhi-NCR Heatwave Pushes More Commuters Towards Public Transport
Passenger numbers on the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor have crossed record levels, prompting NCRTC to add eight more train services during peak hours.
The Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor is witnessing a sharp rise in passenger traffic, with ridership increasing by nearly 8 to 10 per cent in recent weeks. The surge comes amid extreme summer temperatures in Delhi-NCR and growing public focus on fuel conservation and public transport use.
Daily ridership on weekdays, which earlier remained around 92,000 to 93,000 passengers, has now crossed the one lakh mark. Weekend footfall has also increased significantly, touching nearly 1.10 lakh passengers.
The rise in passenger numbers comes at a time when temperatures across Delhi and NCR are hovering between 45 and 46 degrees Celsius. Many commuters are increasingly shifting from private vehicles to the fully air-conditioned Namo Bharat trains due to their comfort, speed and punctuality.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) recently announced the addition of eight more Namo Bharat train trips on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor to handle rising demand during peak hours.
Under the revised schedule, four additional train services will operate between 8 am and 11 am, while another four services will run between 5 pm and 7 pm. These trains will run between Sarai Kale Khan and Meerut South Station. NCRTC has also deployed two extra train sets to support the expanded operations.
The rapid transit system has also crossed a major milestone in overall passenger movement. In the first week of May 2026 itself, the corridor crossed the figure of three crore passenger trips.
The growth has been rapid over the last one year. In May 2025, the system recorded one crore passenger trips while operating across 11 stations and a 55-kilometre stretch. By December 2025, the number doubled to two crore trips. After the corridor became fully operational, ridership crossed three crore within just five months.
Officials said the increasing numbers reflect growing public trust in India’s first regional rapid transit system, which is designed to operate at speeds of up to 160 kmph and significantly reduce travel time between Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut.
The NCRTC stated that improving commuter comfort and encouraging greater use of public transport remain key priorities, especially during periods of extreme weather and rising fuel concerns.
