Ghaziabad: Anticipating a surge in traffic during the Kanwar Yatra, which commences on Thursday, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) will operate 52 additional daily trips on the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor from July 30 to Aug 14, increasing train frequency from every 10 minutes to every eight minutes.As lakhs of devotees proceed to Haridwar on foot to collect holy water, traffic restrictions and road closures on major routes are expected to disrupt the movement of vehicles, prompting commuters to shift to rail transport.An NCRTC official said, “Traffic police often restrict movement on one side of the road or close stretches entirely to facilitate the movement of the devotees, making road travel unpredictable and making this a reliable alternative.”The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor currently records an average daily ridership of around one lakh passengers, and with a significant increase in commuter footfall expected during the yatra, the additional services are expected to particularly benefit office-goers, students and other daily commuters affected by road diversions during the pilgrimage.Alongside Namo Bharat services, Meerut Metro trains will continue operating between Meerut South and Modipuram, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity within the city.NCRTC, however, said road closures could temporarily affect parking facilities at some Namo Bharat stations. Commuters will be informed in advance if such disruptions occur. The corporation added that it is coordinating with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in Delhi and the Uttar Pradesh Special Security Force (UPSSF) in Uttar Pradesh to minimise inconvenience and ensure smooth operations throughout the yatra period.
