A high-level delegation from the World Bank, led by Regional Director Mr. Pankaj Gupta, visited the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to explore future collaborations in urban transit. The discussions focused on financing new RRTS corridors and leveraging the World Bank’s expertise to support the successful implementation of these projects.
More Details:
The World Bank visited the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) corporate office to discuss ongoing and future collaborations in urban transit. The primary focus of the discussion was on financing the upcoming RRTS corridors. The delegation, led by Mr. Pankaj Gupta, Regional Director for Infrastructure at the World Bank, met with the NCRTC team, headed by Managing Director Mr. Shalabh Goel.
World Bank and NCRTC Collaboration:
- The World Bank is a multilateral development bank approved by the Government of India to fund the RRTS corridor between Delhi-Gurugram-SNB.
- The Bank has previously partnered with NCRTC on various initiatives, including studies on providing logistics services through RRTS corridors and exploring Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) potential along the upcoming RRTS routes.
- This partnership has been highly productive, characterised by a collaborative approach to advancing sustainable and efficient transport infrastructure in the National Capital Region.
- This collaboration will not only secure financial support but also leverage the World Bank’s global expertise to mobilise additional capital and partners.
- The Bank has conducted four advance joint missions with the ADB, underscoring their commitment to the successful realisation of the RRTS project.
Positive Outcomes from Meeting:
- During their visit, the delegation appreciated the advanced technologies deployed by NCRTC in implementing India’s first RRTS project and was particularly impressed by NCRTC’s ability to meet the targeted timelines for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor—an impressive achievement for such a large-scale & complex infrastructure project.
- The emphasis on providing seamless multimodal integration at various RRTS stations was also well-received. The delegation noted NCRTC’s development of a substantial capacity of experts and a robust knowledge base, which could greatly benefit other organisations in urban transit.
- The delegation also expressed a strong interest in exploring further collaboration with NCRTC, both locally and globally, marking a significant step toward strengthening the partnership and paving the way for future urban transit developments.
Environment Friendly Development:
- The implementation of the RRTS is a crucial part of a broader strategy to address congestion and pollution in the region.
- It forms part of the ‘Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) for Air Pollution Control in Delhi & NCR’ and follows recommendations from the ‘High-Powered Committee on Decongesting Traffic in Delhi.’
- From the eight identified corridors, three have been prioritised in Phase I: the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, the Delhi-Gurugram-SNB RRTS Corridor, and the Delhi-Panipat RRTS Corridor.
Currently, Namo Bharat train services are operational on a 42 km stretch on the first RRTS corridor of Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut. The entire 82 km corridor is expected to be completed by the targeted deadline of June 2025.
Conclusion:
The World Bank’s visit to NCRTC highlights a significant step towards strengthening collaborations for India’s urban transit development. With a shared commitment to innovation and efficiency, this partnership aims to secure financial backing and mobilize additional resources to ensure the timely execution of the RRTS corridors, enhancing regional connectivity.
Source: NCRTC – Press Release | Images Credit: NCRTC
