A few years ago I remember being stuck in a traffic jam ahead of Meerut on my way to Rishikesh. It was sometime in the afternoon and the heat was unbearable. Vehicles were bumper to bumper. Tempers were short. The air was heavy with impatience. Every glance at the clock brought fresh irritation. Travel, in that moment, felt like punishment.
And yesterday, I experienced the exact opposite of that memory.
Almost poetically, this contrast unfolded in the backdrop of Good Governance Day, which we observed on 25th December 2025, the revered Bharat Ratna Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s birth anniversary. A day that quietly reminds us that governance matters most when it improves everyday life.
We often accept traffic jams as fate, as an inseparable part of urban life. Long hours lost, physical discomfort, mental fatigue, and the constant question: “Why does it have to be this way?”
In summers, it is worse. The heat, the noise, the helplessness. Travel becomes an endurance test rather than a journey.
This will soon be the old normal for Delhi and its periphery thanks to National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC).
With the operationalisation of NAMO Bharat, the Rapid Regional Transport System by NCRTC a new normal is coming into existence.
Thanks to NITI Aayog, MoHUA and NCRTC, a travel aboard a trial run train from New Ashok Vihar Terminal to Duhai Depot brought me face to face with an emerging India.
Entering the terminal itself was great experience, the concourse was spacious, well-planned, and aesthetically appealing. Ample parking for thousands of cars made arriving effortless. Elevators, lifts, and barrier-free access ensured ease for everyone, including children, senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Ticketing looked easy. Connectivity with other modes seamless. Everything flowed quietly, efficiently, without instructions being shouted or directions being confusing. It felt intuitive, very calming.
The train itself was very delightful due to the comfortable seats, spacious interiors and a smooth ride. The facilities like a dedicated space for stretchers reflected great concern and care for the citizens. All this was enabled by advanced technology and AI-enabled systems.
Being a trial run we were allowed to visit the driver's cabin and I felt greater pride to see a lady seated in the driving seat taking us on this swift yet serene journey. No honking.No jolts.No stress. A drive with smooth movement which was clean, precise, and purposeful.
Distances that once needed over an hour and drained our energy were covered with ease in minutes. The Delhi–Duhai Depot 55 km stretch, now operational, feels reimagined.
Designed in Hyderabad, the trains have a design speed of 180 km/h (110 mph) with an operational speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), making them the fastest rapid transit trains in India. Each fully air-conditioned, six-car train set, which could be extended to eight coaches based on demand, consists of one premium coach and one coach reserved for women, and has a capacity of 1,750 passengers. It is compatible with a host of train protection systems like automatic train protection and automatic train control systems, and also features regenerative braking.
The trains are the first-ever rapid transit trains in India to feature an aerodynamic and sleek design and ergonomically designed seats. Several facilities and amenities such as ticket scanners, food vending machines, information display systems, window blinds, charging points, CCTVs, and dedicated seats for physically-challenged passengers are available aboard.
This is what fast-growing cities need, polycentric development, a globally proven model for balanced urban growth, with transport that is reliable, affordable, dignified, and respectful of people’s time.
Distances that once needed over an hour and drained our energy were covered with ease in minutes. The Delhi–Duhai Depot 55 km stretch, now operational, feels reimagined.
Designed in Hyderabad, the trains have a design speed of 180 km/h (110 mph) with an operational speed of 160 km/h (99 mph), making them the fastest rapid transit trains in India. Each fully air-conditioned, six-car train set, which could be extended to eight coaches based on demand, consists of one premium coach and one coach reserved for women, and has a capacity of 1,750 passengers. It is compatible with a host of train protection systems like automatic train protection and automatic train control systems, and also features regenerative braking.
The trains are the first-ever rapid transit trains in India to feature an aerodynamic and sleek design and ergonomically designed seats. Several facilities and amenities such as ticket scanners, food vending machines, information display systems, window blinds, charging points, CCTVs, and dedicated seats for physically-challenged passengers are available aboard.
This is what fast-growing cities need, polycentric development, a globally proven model for balanced urban growth, with transport that is reliable, affordable, dignified, and respectful of people’s time.
What was very evident during the presentation by NCRTC and the drive was not just the speed but the relief. Relief from wasted hours. Relief from exhaustion. Relief from the constant mental load of commuting.When travel becomes efficient, life expands. People can live a little farther, breathe a little easier, spend quality time at home, and still stay connected to opportunity. Reduced travel time means less pollution, less stress, and better balance.
My mind also went back to the first time I travelled on the Mumbai Metro Aqua line, I could feel that same quiet pride, that same sense of “Our country has done this”. Experiencing the RRTS brought that feeling back more strongly.
In the background of Good Governance Day, this journey felt like its most authentic expression not in speeches or files, but in a train that arrives on time, a station that welcomes you, a system that simply works using green energy and rainwater harvesting and is inclusive.
From being annoyed and irritated in a traffic jam to feeling relaxed, comfortable, and happy on NAMO Bharat the contrast could not have been sharper.A couple of years ago, this felt distant. Thanks to NCRTC , today, it is real.
And as the train glided ahead through tunnels and bridges, one thought stayed with me, this is not just a mode of transport. It is a glimpse of India’s future of Viksit Bharat under the extraordinary vision and leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi.
A future that moves smoothly, thinks thoughtfully, and travels with confidence. NAMO Bharat what a joy to experience it.
Feel so proud to belong to this India.
My mind also went back to the first time I travelled on the Mumbai Metro Aqua line, I could feel that same quiet pride, that same sense of “Our country has done this”. Experiencing the RRTS brought that feeling back more strongly.
In the background of Good Governance Day, this journey felt like its most authentic expression not in speeches or files, but in a train that arrives on time, a station that welcomes you, a system that simply works using green energy and rainwater harvesting and is inclusive.
From being annoyed and irritated in a traffic jam to feeling relaxed, comfortable, and happy on NAMO Bharat the contrast could not have been sharper.A couple of years ago, this felt distant. Thanks to NCRTC , today, it is real.
And as the train glided ahead through tunnels and bridges, one thought stayed with me, this is not just a mode of transport. It is a glimpse of India’s future of Viksit Bharat under the extraordinary vision and leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri. Narendra Modi.
A future that moves smoothly, thinks thoughtfully, and travels with confidence. NAMO Bharat what a joy to experience it.
Feel so proud to belong to this India.
R.Vimala, IAS,
Resident Commissioner & Secretary,
Government of Maharashtra &
PhD Scholar at IIT Bombay
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