Manila: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 1 billion (about Rs 7,485 crore) loan to support the construction of the modern, high-speed Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system, a first of its kind in India.
The transit system project aims to help decongest the city and improve regional connectivity by establishing transit options through densely populated sections of the NCR connecting Delhi to Meerut in Uttar Pradesh.
Delhi accounts for 37 per cent of the population of the national capital region (NCR).
"Efficient and integrated transport solutions are critical for managing the rapid urbanisation and ensuring balanced urban development of the region," said ADB Principal Transport Specialist Sharad Saxena.
"This project will also provide safe, reliable and seamless travel between Delhi and other NCR cities and pave the way for a paradigm shift in mobility across the NCR," he said in a statement on Tuesday.
The 82-km Delhi-Meerut regional rapid transit system network is the first of three priority rail corridors in the country's integrated transport network under the NCR regional plan 2021.