Three major entities of the Central Government are evincing keen interest to run trains on elevated tracks to Alwar.
While National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) is already having the plan to construct Delhi-Alwar Regional Rapid Transit System connecting Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and Alwar, preparations are afoot to run semi-high speed train Vande Bharat to Alwar on elevated tracks.
However, the plan to connect Alwar with semi-high speed service is not confined to the Indian Railways and NCRTC, as there is a third serious player also in the race.
It is being learnt that Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is also keen to extend Metro service to Alwar. Since Metro service is already there upto Airport, the DMRC considers that it would be easier to go beyond upto Alwar.
While both the Railways and NCRTC have confirmed their preparatory plans for Alwar, the DMRC has declined to make any comment on the issue.
According to the Railways, the plan is to manufacture the semi-high speed trains which can run at a maximum speed of 240 kmph as against the current programme of 180-kmph Vande Bharat trains.
Either the tracks have to be fenced off for such speed or it has to be elevated to ensure hassle-free run.
There is always danger of outside interference like cattle run-over or human run-over the rails and these problems can be eliminated on elevated tracks.
The Delhi Metro is a mass rapid transit system serving Delhi and its satellite cities of Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, Noida and Bahadurgarh, in the National Capital Region of India.
NCRTC is already executing the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Rapid Rail Transport System (RRTS) corridor and Delhi-Alwar route is also under consideration in the first phase.
Delhi-Alwar RRTS is a 164-km-long semi-high speed rail corridor connecting Delhi, Gurgaon, Rewari and Alwar. It is one of the three RapidX corridors planned under Phase-1 of the RRTS.
NCRTC, a joint venture company of the Centre, and states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, is mandated for implementing the RRTS project across the NCR of India, ensuring a balanced and sustainable urban development through better connectivity and access.
Both NCRTC and DMRC are under administrative control of Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry. While the Centre has to take a call on the issue, all three major players, it seems, are in the race to connect Alwar on elevated tracks.