New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Namo Bharat Rapid Rail and the Meerut Metro on Sunday, describing the projects as a new surge of energy for a “Viksit Uttar Pradesh” and a “Viksit Bharat.”
This marks the first time in India that both a rapid rail and a metro service have been launched from a single platform on the same day.
Modi said the project offers a glimpse of what connectivity will look like in a developed India. He noted that the integrated system combines the Metro for intra-city travel with the Namo Bharat trains to accelerate the “Twin Cities” vision.
Emphasizing the work culture of the Double-Engine government, the PM added that projects no longer remain incomplete, pointing out that his government completes the work it lays the foundation for, with both the foundation and inauguration personally overseen by him.
During his visit, Modi traveled on the Meerut Metro and interacted with students and passengers, according to an official statement. He highlighted that most train operators and station control staff are women, calling the project a symbol of ‘Nari-Shakti.’
He congratulated the people of Uttar Pradesh for witnessing the country’s first Namo Bharat Rapid Rail service.
Recalling his special connection with Meerut, Modi noted that his national election campaigns in 2014, 2019, and 2024 all began from the city. He thanked the farmers, artisans, and entrepreneurs of the region for their continued support.
He pointed out that before 2014, metro services operated in only five cities, whereas now they run in more than 25 cities, making India the third-largest metro network in the world.
Meanwhile, the PM criticised the Congress over a shirtless protest at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in Delhi, saying that while the global event was a success, the Congress turned it into a platform for its “dirty and naked politics.”
