New Delhi – The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $299 million (₹2,631 crore) loan as the final tranche of the Delhi–Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Investment Project, the bank said on Thursday.
The financing brings the total ADB support for the multi-tranche facility, first approved in 2020, to approximately ₹9,264 crore ($1.05 billion). The project, spanning 82 kilometres, is India’s flagship initiative in the National Capital Region aimed at improving sustainable urban transportation and regional connectivity.
Once fully operational, the Delhi–Meerut RRTS is expected to cut travel time between Delhi and Meerut from over three hours to around one hour. As of August 2025, 55 kilometres of the corridor are already operational, with 11 stations connecting New Ashok Nagar in Delhi to Meerut South.
Mio Oka, ADB Country Director for India, said the project represents a “transformative step in India’s urban transport landscape”. Oka added that it not only enhances mobility but also promotes inclusive growth and environmental sustainability, and could serve as a model for future regional rapid transit systems in India and the Asia-Pacific region.
ADB has provided technical support for the project, including expertise in building information modelling, resilience planning and value capture financing.
The project is expected to reduce annual carbon emissions by more than 258,000 tonnes and stimulate polycentric urban development across the National Capital Region.
The system is designed for trains operating at speeds of up to 180 kilometres per hour with intervals of five to ten minutes, offering high-capacity, reliable commuter services.
The ADB financing is complemented by co-financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific.
The project is executed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and implemented by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation.
