New Delhi, December 28 (ANI): India’s Regional Rapid Transit System is emerging as a key driver of urban mobility transformation and corridor-led real estate growth, according to a new report by Knight Frank India.
Titled Regional Rapid Transit System: Testing the Commuters’ Pulse, the study highlights strong commuter satisfaction, rising investor confidence, and a growing willingness among homebuyers to consider properties along RRTS corridors.
The report found that nearly 66 percent of surveyed respondents are keen to purchase property in areas served by the RRTS, underscoring the system’s potential to reshape residential and commercial demand patterns. Around 80 percent of existing RRTS users associate improved connectivity with enhanced economic opportunities in their regions, reflecting the broader impact of high-speed regional transit on employment access and productivity.
According to Knight Frank, visible infrastructure development significantly boosts confidence, with respondents more than twice as likely to perceive economic growth where RRTS-led upgrades are evident. The presence of commercial activity, including offices, retail hubs, and business districts, further amplifies investment sentiment, increasing the likelihood of property investment by more than tenfold.
Similarly, active real estate development along the corridor increases the probability of investment by nearly eightfold, demonstrating that connectivity alone is insufficient and that tangible on-the-ground development is equally critical.
The flagship Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor, being developed by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation, illustrates this potential. Spanning 82 kilometers and backed by an investment exceeding Rs 30,000 crore, the corridor aims to reduce travel time between Delhi and Meerut to under an hour. Portions of the corridor have already become operational, with additional phases under development.
Commuter feedback remains broadly positive, with more than 80 percent of users expressing satisfaction with the service. While some users cited higher commuting costs, time savings, improved safety, comfort, and productivity gains were found to outweigh concerns over fares.
However, the report identified last-mile connectivity and integration with other transport modes as key challenges that must be addressed to ensure sustained ridership growth.
With over 90 percent awareness among aspirational users and strong intent to adopt the system once connectivity gaps are resolved, Knight Frank concluded that RRTS is well positioned to catalyze decentralized urban growth.
For policymakers, developers, and investors, the success of RRTS corridors will depend on coordinated planning that aligns transport infrastructure with land use, social infrastructure, and commercial development.
About The Author
