Rapid rail from Ghaziabad to Noida Airport: Survey kicks off to map station layout

The new Rapid Rail, which will go via Greater Noida West and Pari Chowk, will be constructed in two phases. In the first phase, a 37.15 km-long corridor will be built between Ghaziabad and Ecotech-5 (Kasna). It is proposed to be ready by the year 2031. In the second phase, a 35.11 km-long corridor will be built from Ecotech 6 to the Noida Airport.

A total of at least 12 stations will be part of the corridor — Ghaziabad RRTS, Ghaziabad South, Greater Noida West (Sector 4), Greater Noida (Sector 2), Knowledge Park 5, Surajpur, Pari Chowk, Ecotech-6, Dankaur, YEIDA North (Sector-18), YEIDA Central (Sector-21, 35) and Noida Airport.

According to the feasibility report, the entire project will cost around Rs 16,189 crore. The first phase corridor from Ghaziabad to Kasna will cost Rs 9,798 crore while the second phase will cost Rs 6,391 crore.

Officials said that the Central government will bear 20% of the cost and the state government will bear 50%. The rest will

be borne by the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and Greater Noida authority.

Last year in December, the Uttar Pradesh government approved linking the Rapid Rail project with the Noida International Airport in Jewar, parts of the NCR and Delhi. However, it is a long-term plan, where a 72.2 kilometre-long corridor is expected to be completed by 2041.

The Airport is expected to be operational by December 2024 and the priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS, from Sahibabad to Duhai, is currently operational. Meanwhile, work is on for the next phase up to Meerut.

Recently, NCRTC officials gave a presentation to Yamuna Authority officials detailing the work done so far. Officials said a survey has been started to prepare the DPR. Apart from this, soil is being examined, so that the locations of stations, pillars etc. can be decided. The layout of the station will be decided accordingly. NCRTC officials will now give a presentation in February, wherein authority officials will share their suggestions. After this, the DPR will be submitted to the government.