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The Public Investment Board has approved two new Namo Bharat Rapid Rail corridors connecting Delhi with Haryana's major hubs, marking a major step in expanding the National Capital Region's transit network. The 93 km Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal route is estimated at INR 32,000 crore, while the 136 km Sarai Kale Khan-Karnal line is projected at INR 33,000 crore. Together costing INR 65,000 crore, both projects will move to the Union Cabinet for final clearance. The approval also encourages adoption of value capture financing and transit-oriented development to integrate urban growth with mobility.
The Central Government's Public Investment Board (PIB) has given its approval for two new Namo Bharat rapid rail corridors in the Delhi-NCR region. These include the Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal and Sarai Kale Khan?Karnal routes, together spanning over 225 km. This clearance comes after earlier delays due to funding disagreements between the Centre and the previous Delhi administration. Both proposals will now proceed to the Union Cabinet for final approval. Advertisement
According to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal corridor will stretch 93 km at an estimated cost of INR 32,000 crore, while the Sarai Kale Khan-Karnal corridor will cover around 136 km with a projected investment of INR 33,000 crore. Combined, these projects represent a total cost of nearly INR 65,000 crore. The PIB panel, chaired by the Union Expenditure Secretary, has advised Delhi and Haryana to jointly adopt value capture financing (VCF), a model that uses the rise in land value around transport projects to help fund development.
The Sarai Kale Khan-Bawal corridor will begin in Delhi and pass through south Haryana, covering key industrial areas such as Manesar and Bawal, largely following the National Highway-8 alignment. The first phase, from Delhi to the SNB Urban Complex near Bawal, will span about 107 km and include 16 stations. Once extended further, the corridor is expected to include around 22 stations in total.
The Sarai Kale Khan-Karnal corridor will also start in Delhi and travel northward through Sonipat and Panipat before ending in Karnal. The total length of this route is about 136 km, and its detailed project report is already prepared. The alignment is proposed to be tendered in three packages-Sarai Kale Khan to Alipur, Alipur to Samalkha, and Samalkha to Karnal New ISBT to streamline construction.
The Ministry has also encouraged both states to adopt transit-oriented development (TOD) and establish Urban Metropolitan Transport Authorities (UMTAs) to coordinate planning and ensure sustainable growth around the new corridors. The ongoing revision of the TOD policy by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry aims to improve integration between transport projects and urban planning.
Officials noted that these projects form part of the broader National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) vision to strengthen connectivity after the progress of the Delhi-Meerut RRTS corridor. Once operational, the new routes are expected to reduce road congestion, cut travel time, and provide faster connectivity between major industrial and residential areas in Delhi, Gurgaon, Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal.
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