With Priority Section stations of the RRTS corridor gearing up for starting of operations, Trainset testing is speeding up on the viaduct.
All the stations on the 17-km long Priority Section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut are in the advanced stages of construction and have started taking shape.
The section is slowly turning all shades of blue as the stations are now getting adorned with Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) signature blue facades.
At present, National Capital Region Transport Corporation Limited (NCRTC) is carrying out test runs in the Priority Section to test various components of the RRTS. For safe and efficient operations, every aspect of the RRTS is being thoroughly tested independently.
Commuter-centricity being the tenet of the implementation of RRTS, NCRTC is constructing the entry/exits of the elevated stations on the RRTS corridor on both sides of the roads.
This will not only enhance the accessibility for commuters intending to travel from RRTS but will also help passengers safely cross over busy roads such as the Link Road and the Delhi-Meerut Road.
Unlike other transit systems, these entry/exits will be accessible not just for RRTS passengers but also for pedestrians who can use them to cross major roads without entering the paid area of the RRTS stations. This pedestrian-friendly feature will help in the safe movement of pedestrians and also help in crowd management at stations.
Most of the RRTS stations have three to four floors. To enhance the accessibility and ensure an easy, hassle-free journey for commuters, especially for the elderly, specially-abled, children and women, multiple lifts and escalators are being installed at the stations.
The installation of Platform Screen Doors (PSDs) at the RRTS stations is being carried out. Equipped with double-tempered glass, the installation of the PSDs are being done in several stages by assembling the individual parts.
The PSDs will act as a shield for safety between the train/track and the passengers, thereby ensuring better crowd management at the stations as well as avoiding any untoward incidents such as passengers falling on the tracks.
The safety of the commuters is a priority of NCRTC and taking a firm step in this direction, NCRTC is integrating these Platform Screen Doors with RRTS train doors and a state-of-the-art ETCS Level-2 signalling system. As a result of this, the train will run only after both the PSDs and the doors of the train are closed.
Installation of CCTV cameras is also going on in the section. NCRTC is committed to improving the safety and convenience of passengers. Hence, CCTVs are being installed in the stations from entry-exit gates to the concourse and platform level in such a way that all the activities happening in the station premises can be monitored around the clock.
To provide universal access and facilitate smooth travel in the RRTS trains, a designated space for wheelchairs and stretchers has been provided in the train coaches. Special, spacious lifts have also been installed at the stations to facilitate the movement of stretchers for medical needs.
Lakhs of passengers are expected to commute daily from RRTS stations. To facilitate their travel and ensure easy access to the station, NCRTC is going to create a dedicated pick-up/drop-off zone at the stations away from the main carriageway.
These steps were taken as due to a lack of designated space, the vehicles, generally drop off the passengers on the road. It creates hindrances in the movement of traffic and a jam-like condition arises almost daily.
Commuters, only after struggling with the overcrowding, haywire traffic and walking a long distance get entry inside the station. Lack of connectivity forces them to cross roads in heavy traffic, risking their lives and creating traffic hindrances.
A dedicated car drop-off zone is being built under the station box wherever possible so that commuters can enter the station by walking just a short distance as soon as they get off their ride.
To manage the traffic and for the smooth and orderly movement of vehicles in and around the station, additional drive-in space for all types of vehicles is also being created by integrating traffic wherever possible.
In addition, there will be pedestrian-friendly paths, lifts/escalators, seating areas and other commuter-centric amenities that will facilitate universal access at the stations.
Multi-modal integration is the core principle of RRTS. This is in line with the PM Gati Shakti-National Master Plan. Its purpose is to make travel hassle-free and convenient for the passengers and to encourage the use of public transport.
In order to facilitate this, RRTS stations are being seamlessly integrated with other modes of public transport like bus stands, airports, metro stations, railway stations etc., wherever possible on the 82 km long Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor. This will enable a convenient and seamless journey for commuters in the National Capital Region.
RRTS stations are being built according to the highest rating of the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) by providing the provision of various factors that improve the environment including solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and waste management system.
Commuter-Centric Features of the Country’s First RRTS Trainsets
- Aerodynamic profile with long nose and plug-in-doors to reduce air drag at higher speeds.
- Fully air-conditioned cars with wide gangways for commuters’ maximum space for easy entry and exit. Large window glasses with tint will give panoramic views.
- Ergonomically designed 2X2 transverse seating, cushioned seats.
- One Premium Class car on every train to give a new level of comfort, convenience, and user-friendliness. Will have wider seats with more legroom, and coat hangers. Equipped with a vending machine facility.
- Energy efficient, auto control ambient lighting system.
- CCTV monitoring, Indoor and Outdoor Surveillance systems.
- Modern Passenger Announcement and Digital Passenger Information System (PAPIS), emergency communication facilities.
- Provision of wheelchair space for differently-abled and stretcher space for emergency medical transit.
- Compatible with advanced ETCS Level II Signalling, Automatic Train Operations and Platform Screen Doors (PSD) for improved safety.
- Design and Manufacturing based on International Safety Standards.
- Fire detection system for internal and external fire.
- Monitoring of Axle box temperature with Wayside equipment.