The road to the Himalayas is about to get a whole lot shorter for Delhiites now. In what comes as a major boost for travellers, pilgrims and tourists, the Meerut-Rishikesh Namo Bharat train extension has been approved, paving the way for Delhi to Rishikesh journeys that take just around three hours – a dramatic cut from the current 5-6 hour ordeal by road.
The breakthrough comes after an agreement was reached between the governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced the development, calling it a major boost for connectivity in the state. According to him, the project will give pilgrims, tourists, and residents a fast, safe, and modern mode of transportation.
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All About The Project
The existing 82-km Namo Bharat corridor, which currently runs between Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi and Modipuram in Meerut, will be extended by an additional 150 km all the way to Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh. The semi-high-speed train, which is capable of running at 160 km per hour, will cover the roughly 230-km distance in about three hours.
The new alignment will pass through some of the most recognisable names on the pilgrim trail. From Modipuram, the route threads through Muzaffarnagar before crossing into Uttarakhand, then continues via Roorkee and Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar, before finally terminating at Lakshman Jhula in Rishikesh. Of the total stretch, 72 km will lie in Uttar Pradesh and 78 km in Uttarakhand.
A detailed project report (DPR) survey for the 150-km stretch will begin soon to finalise specifics such as station locations and the exact route alignment. Earlier reports had also floated possible stops at Daurala, Sakauti, Khatauli, and Purkazi near the Uttar Pradesh–Uttarakhand border, with the state reportedly seeking close to Rs. 750 crore for infrastructure upgrades – including automatic power systems and underground cabling – to support high-speed transit through the ecologically sensitive Kumbh region around Haridwar.
Meanwhile, the original Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat service became operational earlier this year, and its extension northward is expected to transform how people travel to one of North India’s most visited religious and tourist destinations. With stops planned near Har Ki Pauri and Lakshman Jhula, the new line will essentially connect the capital directly to the heart of the Ganga’s spiritual towns.