Context-

• The Sahibabad-Duhai section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor of RapidX was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
• With this the country's first RapidX project i.e. 'NaMo Bharat Rail' became operational.

 Target -

• RapidX aims to provide people with fast, safe, comfortable and reliable travel at affordable rates.
• To achieve this goal, RapidX will run at a speed of 180 kilometres per hour at a time.

 Main Point-

• RRTS stations have been integrated with existing bus terminals, railway and metro stations for the convenience of passengers.
• RRTS trains will have special coaches for women.
• Special seats will also be marked for women, children, elderly and disabled in each coach. Wheel chair facility will also be ensured for the disabled.
• In case of emergency, initiatives like Green Corridor facility have also been taken to ensure timely access of patients to necessary health facilities.
• NCRTC is also going to implement the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) and will also have the facility of UPI-based Ticket Vending Machines (TVM) for the first time in the country.
• For project monitoring, NCRTC has created a tool like 'SPEED' (Systematic Program Evaluation for Efficient Delivery of Projects).
• There are three phases in the first phase of RRTS. The first stop is from Delhi to Meerut.
• In the second phase, its scope will extend from Delhi to Panipat (Haryana) and in the third phase, it will be expanded from Delhi to Dharuhera (Rajasthan). 
• Its total cost is around Rs 1 lakh crore.

 Benefit -

• It is noteworthy that after the commencement of commercial services, it is estimated that this will help in reducing carbon emissions equivalent to 18 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide.
• A unique aspect of this project is that it has connected the Meerut Metro with the RRTS infrastructure.
• This has resulted in a saving of about Rs 6,300 crore to the government exchequer.
• Apart from providing convenience to the passengers, many other benefits will also be seen.
• This ambitious project is also a reflection of the success of ‘Make in India’ and India’s manufacturing capabilities.
• For this, the country's first certified high speed rolling stock and 100 percent train set was made in Savli, Gujarat.
• Platform Screen Doors (PSD) were also designed and manufactured completely indigenously for the first time.
• For this, the partnership between NCRTC and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) bore fruit.

 Exam useful important facts -

Rapid Rail Project-

• Its aim is that people living within a radius of 200 kilometres of Delhi can travel from the city to the national capital Delhi within an hour.

 Difference between Rapid Rail and Metro Rail -

• The biggest difference between Metro and Rapid is the speed. The maximum speed of Delhi Metro is 80 to 100 km per hour, whereas Rapid Rail is a semi high speed train i.e. its speed will be from 160 km per hour to 180 km per hour.