Overview
- The governments of Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region Transport Corporation approved the Meerut–Rishikesh extension in an agreement reached on June 17.
- Officials said a survey to prepare the Detailed Project Report will begin soon, marking the project’s pre-construction planning phase before environmental clearances, funding finalisation, or construction.
- The proposed alignment adds roughly 150 kilometres from Modipuram (Meerut) to Lakshman Jhula (Rishikesh) via Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee and Har Ki Pauri (Haridwar), with about 72 km in Uttar Pradesh and 78 km in Uttarakhand.
- Namo Bharat trains, which can run up to 160 km/h, are projected to cover the roughly 230 km Delhi–Rishikesh route in about three hours; the existing Delhi–Meerut service began operations in January 2025.
- Uttarakhand has named Additional Secretary Reena Joshi as its nodal officer, the NCRTC has designated its nodal officer, and Uttar Pradesh has given formal consent, with officials highlighting faster pilgrim and tourist access and regional development as expected benefits.