ADB President Masato Kanda Visits India’s First Namo Bharat Corridor, Applauds Innovation and Inclusivity
📍 Ghaziabad/Delhi NCR | 29 May 2025
In a landmark moment underscoring global collaboration and technological advancement, Masato Kanda, President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), visited India’s first Namo Bharat Corridor on Thursday, marking a key highlight of his maiden official trip to the country.
Hosted by NCRTC Managing Director Shalabh Goel and senior officials, Mr. Kanda experienced a ride aboard the Namo Bharat train from Sahibabad to Duhai Depot, witnessing firsthand the speed, comfort, and next-generation commuter-centric infrastructure that defines the country’s first semi-high-speed regional rail system.
The ADB President praised the inclusive design of the corridor, including seamless accessibility features at trains and stations, and appreciated the adoption of cutting-edge technologies across the system. “We are committed to further strengthening ADB’s partnership with NCRTC,” Mr. Kanda said, acknowledging the corridor as a transformative model for regional connectivity in South Asia.
Empowering Communities Through Innovation and Inclusion
At Duhai Depot, the delegation reviewed community development initiatives executed under the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR). A heartwarming moment came as President Kanda distributed assistive aids – such as smart canes, wheelchairs, crutches, and hearing aids, to specially-abled individuals.
He also awarded certificates to women beneficiaries who completed employability and skills training, and interacted with young women students who had received self-defense and life skills education. These initiatives, supported by ADB, reflect NCRTC’s commitment to gender equity, social inclusion, and community empowerment.
Innovation Hub ‘Aparimit’ Leaves Strong Impression
The visit also included a walkthrough of ‘Aparimit’, NCRTC’s Centre of Innovation, where President Kanda experienced the use of Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Reality (AR), and Building Information Modelling (BIM) tools that are enabling immersive training, operational efficiency, and world-class project execution.
NCRTC briefed the delegation on its gender-inclusive operational model, where women train operators and station controllers are not just participants but pioneers, symbolizing India’s shift towards women-led development. President Kanda interacted with many of them, commending their contributions and the corridor’s commitment to equitable growth.
A Symbol of Sustainable Urbanisation
The Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut Namo Bharat Corridor, which received nearly USD 1 billion in funding support from ADB, represents a game-changing leap in India’s regional mobility. The project promotes low-emission transport, high-speed connectivity, and inclusive urbanisation across the National Capital Region.
Following the corridor visit, Mr. Kanda is scheduled to meet the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, further reinforcing ADB’s growing role in India’s infrastructure and sustainable development roadmap.
As India positions itself at the forefront of climate-resilient infrastructure and smart mobility, the Namo Bharat corridor — with ADB’s support — stands as a beacon of how innovation, inclusion, and international cooperation can redefine public transport and regional growth.
🛤️ India’s first semi-high-speed rail corridor
👩⚕️ Empowering women & communities through training
🚅 Future-ready tech: BIM, VR, AR in transport execution
🌏 ADB’s continued commitment to resilient Asia
