RRTS: Rajiv Chowk has been proposed by the Haryana government as the starting point for the proposed Gurgaon–Faridabad–Noida Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor.
The Haryana government contended that Rajiv Chowk as the central junction would considerably improve multimodal integration while boosting ridership at the same time.
Haryana officials are of the view that starting the high-speed corridor from Rajiv Chowk would ensure consistent, all-day commuter demand instead of limiting usage to peak office hours. Furthermore, they contended that the existing alignment underserves Gurgaon’s population.
The National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has flagged serious concerns over the proposal. It cited complex engineering requirements, higher construction costs and the possibility of a longer route detour between IGI Airport’s Aerocity and Noida International Airport at Jewar.
The differences between the NCRTC and the Haryana government surfaced during discussions to finalize the draft detailed project report (DPR) for the corridor, which is planned as a rapid airport-to-airport connection passing through Gurgaon and Faridabad.
What The Current Namo Bharat RRTS Draft Says?
According to the current RRTS draft, the route would begin at IFFCO Chowk, runs through Sector 54, enters Faridabad at Bata Chowk and proceeds via the Sector 85–86 junction toward Noida Sector 142/168 before connecting to Jewar via Surajpur.
The stretch is expected to have six stations and is expected to cost around Rs 15,000 crore, making it Haryana’s third RRTS corridor.
Interestingly, the junction is already earmarked for an underground station on the Delhi–Gurgaon–Manesar–Bawal RRTS corridor and is expected to gain metro connectivity under the proposed Bhondsi–Gurgaon railway station line.
“Rajiv Chowk sits at the centre of the city with a public-transport network and caters to commuters throughout the day, unlike IFFCO Chowk and Golf Course Road, which largely see peak-hour corporate traffic,” a senior official said.
