A premium coach with reclining seats, a separate one for women, and differently abled friendly features: Starting October 21, passengers can hop onto India’s first regional rapid rail and travel in comfort. Following the inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sahibabad Friday, the 17-km priority section of the 82-km-long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor will become operational. This priority section has five stations: Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot, which will cover a distance of 17 km. Commuters will be able to travel using paper QR code-based journey tickets, National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) cards, and digital QR code-based tickets that can be availed through the NCRTC’s mobile app, ‘RAPIDX Connect’. Commuters will get to know the expected time of arrival of the next train on the electronic public display at the station platform. The features: -Each RAPIDX train will have one premium coach with a host of features like reclining seats, coat hooks, magazine holders and footrests. Entry to this coach will be accessible only through a premium lounge on the platform. -In every RAPIDX train, a train attendant will be deputed to ensure a safe and secure commute. -One coach in every RAPIDX train is reserved for women; it is the coach next to the premium coach. -A designated space for wheelchairs and stretchers has been provided in the last coach. -For commuters travelling with young children, a diaper-changing station has been provided in the women’s washroom at every station. Further, a Lost & Found Centre has been established in RAPIDX and any lost item can be collected from the same station within 24 hours. For the priority section, the Lost & Found Centre is located at the Ghaziabad RAPIDX Station, and its working hours are from 8 am to 8 pm. Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Door Frame Metal Detectors (DFMDs) will be used for security screening of commuters at stations. The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), which is implementing the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project across NCR, has entered into an agreement with two mobility operators to provide para transit-based feeder services, which will operate electric auto rickshaws from RRTS stations. Subsequently, with an increase in demand, these operators will deploy bigger vehicles as per requirements. These mobility partners have outlined tentative routes from each of the priority section stations. These routes will extend over approximately 9 km, encompassing not only urban areas like Raj Nagar Extension, Jagriti Vihar, and GDA Colony but also village communities such as Bikanpur, Milak Chakarpur, Shahpur Nij Morta, Basantpur Senthali, and Atour Nagla. The Security Control Centre (SCC) has been set up at the Depot, which will monitor the entire priority section 24x7 through CCTVs. The Uttar Pradesh government has entrusted the responsibility of security at all stations in the state to the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force. In the Delhi section, security at stations will be ensured by the Central Industrial Security Force. The UP government has also made a provision for a police station in Ghaziabad and Meerut for RAPIDX. Moreover, the provision of a police post at every RAPIDX station has also been made to ensure security at stations.
