In a significant stride towards modernizing intra and intercity rail travel, Alstom celebrated the successful delivery of the first indigenously manufactured trainset for Meerut Metro. The ceremony, held at Alstom’s manufacturing facility in Savli, Gujarat, saw the flagging off of the inaugural trainset, attended virtually by Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs & Petroleum & Natural Gas, along with Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director – NCRTC, and Oliver Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India.
The Meerut Metro, an urban Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS), spans a 25-km stretch of Line-1, connecting Partapur to Modipuram via 11 stations, including both elevated and underground segments. This project is part of a larger contract signed by Alstom in 2020 for the delivery of 210 cars for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS). The Meerut Metro aims to serve as a feeder to the RRTS and a metro for the Meerut region.
“The Meerut Metro project is a step forward in the country’s ambition to modernise intra and intercity rail travel, and we are delighted to be delivering our next generation products towards realising this vision,” expressed Olivier Loison, Managing Director, Alstom India.
Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director – NCRTC, emphasized the significance of the Meerut Metro and the Namo Bharat trains, stating, “Namo Bharat trains and Meerut Metro are a testament to our unwavering commitment towards the realisation of the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan.”
The Meerut Metro trainsets, designed at Alstom’s Hyderabad engineering centre and manufactured at Savli, Gujarat, are aligned with the government’s Make-in-India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. These indigenous trains boast outstanding ergonomics, safety features, and passenger-centric amenities, including overhead luggage racks, miniature screens, Wi-Fi connectivity, and USB sockets.
The project involves the delivery of 30 transit train cars, along with the design, supply, and installation of signaling, train control, telecommunication systems, platform screen doors, and long-term evolution for the ~17km priority section. Alstom is committed to providing comprehensive maintenance services for 15 years.
“The combined service will drive a long-term positive impact for business and leisure travel in the northern belt,” remarked Olivier Loison.
The Meerut Metro is poised to play a pivotal role in promoting balanced and sustainable economic development in the region. The advanced, eco-friendly design incorporates energy-saving technologies, contributing to reduced traffic congestion, air pollution, and fuel consumption.
The Meerut Metro project reflects a collaborative effort between Alstom and NCRTC, bringing cutting-edge technology and sustainable mobility solutions to the forefront of India’s transportation landscape.