New Delhi

Passenger footfall at several Namo Bharat stations on the Delhi-Meerut corridor has increased by over 40 per cent during the Kanwar Yatra, with Ghaziabad station witnessing a rise of more than 50 per cent, according to the NCRTC.

With several key roads closed for general traffic to facilitate the annual pilgrimage, road travel has become difficult and unpredictable, prompting more commuters to opt for the Namo Bharat service for its faster, reliable and time-bound connectivity, the corporation said.

Ghaziabad Namo Bharat station has recorded 15,000 to 20,000 commuters using it every day.

Similar growth has been observed at Muradnagar and Guldhar stations, while Modinagar stations have registered an increase of nearly 40 per cent.

In Meerut, Brahmapuri, Meerut Central and Meerut North stations have witnessed higher passenger numbers. Ghaziabad, Anand Vihar and Begumpul continue to remain the busiest Namo Bharat stations on the corridor, it said.

The NCRTC said a few entry and exit gates at select Namo Bharat stations have been temporarily closed in accordance with administrative directions.

Passengers, however, continue to access train services through alternate gates.

On August 3, the Delhi-Meerut Namo Bharat corridor recorded its highest-ever average daily ridership, with around 1.5 lakh passengers travelling on the network, it stated.

The day coincided with the first Monday of the holy month of Shravan. The previous highest daily ridership of around 1.25 lakh passengers was recorded on June 8, 2026.

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Anticipating a sharp rise in passenger demand during the Kanwar Yatra, the NCRTC has been operating 52 additional train trips daily on the corridor between July 30 and August 14.

With the additional service, trains are now available at an interval of every eight minutes across the entire Sarai Kale Khan-Modipuram corridor.