"Ghaziabad Could Get Orbital Rail Link Connecting Haryana, Noida, and Greater Noida: GDA Feasibility Study Underway"

The Uttar Pradesh government has designated the Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) as the nodal agency for the orbital rail project, a key component of the National Capital Region (NCR) Planning Board's 2041 regional plan. This ambitious project aims to create a 270-kilometer rail corridor, with 90 kilometers passing through Uttar Pradesh, connecting major cities including Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Noida, and Greater Noida.

The orbital rail will link with the rapid rail corridor near Duhai, enhancing both passenger and freight movement across the NCR. Unlike the access-controlled Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, this rail line will feature stations every five kilometers, covering areas in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana that the expressways do not serve.

The GDA has paid approximately Rs 10 lakh to the Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation (HRIDC) for the preparation of a feasibility report, which is expected within six months. The project is anticipated to significantly boost logistical efficiency in the NCR region.

"GDA has been tasked with liaising with HRIDC for the feasibility report. The payment has been made, and we expect the report in six months," said a GDA official.

In May, Meerut Divisional Commissioner Selva Kumari convened a meeting with stakeholders including the NCR Planning Cell, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC), and GDA to expedite the project. The rail corridor is being designed with multi-modal integration, connecting with the rapid rail near Duhai and linking NCR cities such as Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Noida, and Greater Noida.

The project is expected to create a new freight corridor, complementing the Dadri freight corridor, and support the development of five urban clusters-Gurgaon-Manesar, Faridabad-Ballabgarh, Meerut, Ghaziabad, and Noida-Greater Noida-Kasna-into mega cities by 2032. This orbital rail project is crucial for establishing the NCR as a major logistics hub.

ET