Dharuhera, an industrial town in Rewari district, has lost its biggest infrastructure win. The maintenance depot for the Rs 37,000-crore Namo Bharat Delhi-Alwar corridor, which was originally planned for Dharuhera, has now been shifted to Panchgaon in Gurugram district.
According to The Tribune, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) has completed the survey of the 93.5-kilometre corridor from Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Bawal. Land assessment and soil testing have been done at 22 locations along the alignment.
Why the Depot Location Matters for Dharuhera
For a town that has long waited at the edge of Gurugram's prosperity, the depot was seen as a major development opportunity. The maintenance depot would have made Dharuhera the operational nerve centre of the entire corridor, bringing jobs and economic activity. Losing this distinction is a significant setback for the industrial township.
The Gurugram administration has already sent a site report on the new Panchgaon depot location to the state government, according to The Tribune. Civil construction work on the new site is expected to follow.
What This Means for the RRTS Project
The depot shift does not change the overall alignment of the Delhi-Alwar corridor. The 93.5-kilometre route will still connect Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi to Bawal, with stations along the way. However, the change in depot location means that the operational hub of the project will now be in Gurugram district rather than Rewari district.
The NCRTC has conducted surveys at 22 locations along the alignment, indicating that the project is moving forward despite the location change. The corridor is part of the larger Namo Bharat rapid rail network being developed across the National Capital Region.
Our Take: A Missed Opportunity for Dharuhera
In our view, this decision is a clear loss for Dharuhera. The town has been waiting for infrastructure investment that could bridge the gap between it and Gurugram's development. The depot was not just a building — it was a symbol of that promise. Shifting it to Panchgaon, which is already closer to Gurugram's core, reinforces the pattern of development concentrating in already-prosperous areas.
To put it plainly, Dharuhera residents have every reason to feel disappointed. While the RRTS corridor will still pass through the area, the loss of the depot means fewer jobs and less economic spin-off for the town. The state government and NCRTC should consider what compensatory measures can be taken to ensure Dharuhera still benefits from this massive infrastructure project.