The civil work for the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) project, which covers 82 km and connects Delhi, Ghaziabad and Meerut, is almost completed by the NCRTC (National Capital Region Transport Corporation). The work in Meerut has been completed, leaving only 2 percent of the work pending for the Anand Vihar-Vaishali section.

Puneet Vats, NCRTC's main PRO, said the underground civil construction of tunnel works for the RRTS project is expected to be completed in about a week. The remaining work is specifically in the Anand Vihar to Vaishali section. This means that the tunnel work is about 98 percent complete. After the completion of the tunnels, the next steps will consist of laying tracks, installing signals and setting up above-ground equipment.

The underground tunnels for the RRTS project have a width wider than that of typical metro systems, measuring 6.5 metres instead of the usual 5.8 metres. This modification is intended for the larger RapidX trains, which are expected to run at a speed of 180 km/h. In addition, the tunnels are equipped with crossings at intervals of 250 meters to facilitate maintenance and evacuation of passengers in case of emergency.

The first part of the RRTS project, a 17 km stretch in Ghaziabad from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, which includes five stations, has already been completed by the NCRTC and is currently awaiting inauguration.

After the start of passenger operations on this route, the next phases will include the expansion of operations from Duhai to Meerut and then to Delhi. The final blueprint includes the integration of the metro module in Meerut. Progress on rail construction for the elevated corridor is progressing rapidly, with about 50 percent of the work completed from Duhai to Meerut (south). Most of the construction of the viaduct has also been completed, with about 15 km remaining in various areas of Delhi and Meerut.

The RRTS project is expected to be commissioned in March 2025 and has an estimated cost of Rs 302.74 crore. The project covers a route of 82 km and includes a total of 25 stations, divided into three in Delhi, eight in Ghaziabad and the remaining stations in Meerut.