Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the remaining sections of India’s first Namo Bharat Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), making the high-speed regional corridor fully operational. The newly opened stretches include a 5-km segment between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar in Delhi, and a 21-km section linking Meerut South to Modipuram in Uttar Pradesh.

Real estate experts say the completion of the corridor is poised to significantly reshape property markets across the National Capital Region (NCR). Even before full commissioning, the operational 55-km stretch had triggered strong residential demand in Meerut, Ghaziabad, Muradnagar and Modinagar, with land prices in Meerut rising sharply. With travel time to Delhi now under an hour, improved connectivity is expected to unlock new land banks, accelerate Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), and position Meerut as an emerging “bedroom community” for Delhi-based professionals, according to a report by The Hindustan Times.

Ankita Sood, National Director – Research, Knight Frank India, points out that infrastructure upgrades, such as the RRTS and Metro connectivity, are expected to play a significant role in elevating Meerut’s position as an emerging real estate market. Improved regional connectivity is likely to unlock large land banks across the city, encouraging developers to explore new development opportunities.

“Faster travel times to Delhi and other NCR centres are expected to reshape buyer preferences. For many homebuyers, shorter commutes outweigh higher property prices, making projects along the corridor increasingly attractive,” she said.

“Having said that, price movement will largely depend on the pace of new supply entering the market. In the near term, residential and retail segments are expected to benefit the most, while commercial real estate may see a more gradual impact over the long run,” she said.

Improved connectivity is also expected to encourage residents who previously could not afford housing in Delhi to consider options in the Tier 2 town, she said.

According to Prashant Thakur, Executive Director & Head – Research and Advisory, ANAROCK Group, the opening of the Sarai Kale Khan RRTS and Meerut Metro marks a turning point for the city’s real estate market. The corridor has already led to a 30-60% increase in property prices near stations like Modipuram and Shatabdi Nagar, cutting travel time to Delhi to less than 60 minutes.

National-level developers are drawn to integrated Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) zones, which are converting outlying areas into highly sought-after urban centres. “We can expect steady capital growth and a significant shift toward upscale gated townships as Meerut develops into a feasible ‘bedroom community’ for Delhi professionals,” he said.

With projected growth of 30-40%, Modipuram and Pallavpuram are leading the list of benefiting growth centres. The top investment destinations are Shatabdi Nagar, Partapur, and Shastri Nagar, he pointed out.