A proposed Namo Bharat rapid rail extension could eventually give travelers a faster rail link between Delhi-NCR, Haridwar and Rishikesh, two of Uttarakhand’s busiest pilgrimage and leisure destinations.
Indian media reports say the Meerut–Haridwar–Rishikesh corridor has received in-principle approval and that work on a Detailed Project Report survey is under way. The reported plan would extend the existing Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut Namo Bharat corridor from Modipuram in Meerut toward Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee, Haridwar and Rishikesh.
The proposed extension is reported to be about 150 km long, with roughly 72 km in Uttar Pradesh and 78 km in Uttarakhand. Reported route points include Daurala, Khatauli, Muzaffarnagar, Purkazi, Roorkee, Har Ki Pauri in Haridwar and the Lakshman Jhula area near Rishikesh.
For visitors, the route would be most relevant for trips from Delhi and the wider NCR to Haridwar’s ghats, Rishikesh’s yoga and adventure-travel scene, and onward Uttarakhand journeys. Current travel between Delhi and Rishikesh is usually planned around road transfers, conventional rail services, buses or private taxis, with journey times affected by highway traffic, pilgrimage peaks and weather disruption in the hill season.
Still a planning-stage project
Travelers should treat the corridor as a future project, not an active transport option. There is no confirmed opening date, fare table, construction schedule or final public station list for the Meerut–Haridwar–Rishikesh extension. The DPR stage can still change alignments, station locations, land-acquisition needs and delivery timelines.
The existing Namo Bharat passenger network currently lists stations on the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor, including Sarai Kale Khan, Anand Vihar, Ghaziabad, Meerut stations and Modipuram. Official NCRTC project information describes the Delhi–Ghaziabad–Meerut corridor as an 82-km regional rapid transit line. Those official pages do not yet provide a dedicated traveler-facing page for the Rishikesh extension.
What to watch before planning trips
- Opening timeline: wait for NCRTC or government confirmation before assuming the route will be available for a specific travel season.
- Final stations: the usefulness for Haridwar and Rishikesh visitors will depend on how close stations are to Har Ki Pauri, central Haridwar, Rishikesh town and local transport links.
- Interchanges in Delhi-NCR: Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar are likely to remain important connection points for airport, rail, metro and bus transfers.
- Peak-season crowding: if built, the line could become important during Char Dham Yatra periods, long weekends and major Haridwar pilgrimage events.
Until the extension is formally added to official Namo Bharat route information, travelers should continue to book Delhi–Haridwar–Rishikesh journeys through existing trains, buses, flights to Dehradun, taxis or private transfers, and check live road and rail conditions before departure.
Primary sources
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The reported Meerut–Haridwar–Rishikesh extension is still in the planning and DPR survey stage. Travelers cannot book or use it yet.
Reports say the corridor would extend from Modipuram in Meerut toward Muzaffarnagar, Roorkee, Haridwar and Rishikesh, with route details still subject to official confirmation.
No official opening date has been confirmed. Travelers should wait for NCRTC or government announcements before using the project in trip planning.
