30 November,2009 07:46 AM IST | | MiD Day Correspondent
Delhi Metro Airport Express Link to reduce travel time and cost
Metro has brought the airport closer.
Within a year, residents of west Delhi will be able to reach the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in less than three minutes and that too by paying only Rs 30.u00a0 Thanks to the Delhi Metro.
At present, Dwarka residents have to travel about 10 km to reach IGI Airport.
The Delhi Metro Airport Express Link will have a station at Dwarka Sector 21, which will also be the last station of the Noida-Dwarka line (Line-III). The station is being designed to allow commuters to board the train to the airport without having to change platforms.
"Commuters, especially those from west Delhi, will benefit from this station. They will be able to reach the airport in less than three minutes and by paying only Rs 30," said Anuj Dayal, Delhi Metro spokesperson.
However, Dayal added the fare may be altered later by the operator. "But Rs 30 is what we have recommended in the detailed project report for the Delhi Metro Express Line," he said.
The Delhi Metro Express Link will be operated by a Reliance Energy-led consortium of companies.
Dayal said as they expected most commuters to use the Noida-Dwarka line to reach Dwarka Sector 21 and then change over to the Airport Express Line trains, the stations are being merged. "Two stations are being built as one at Dwarka Sector 21. To ensure this, the platforms of both Line-3 and the Airport Metro Express Line (AMEL) are being built at the same underground level," Dayal said.
Even fare collection gates and token counters will be installed at the platform level. A glass barrier will be installed in the middle of the island platform to separate the AMEL from Line-3, even though they will remain visually connected.
Commuters will be allowed to carry their luggage in the trains for which baggage scanning will be done by the airport line operator.
Apart from platform-level ticketing, there will be a separate entry for those who enter the Sector-21 station to reach the airport.
u00a0"Even at the ground level with separate gates for entry of Line-3 and airport-bound passengers, there will be separate token counters and separate lifts, stairs and escalators to access the platforms. There will be different Station Control Rooms for Line-3 and AMEL as well," Dayal added.
Zip to the airport
Length of Airport Express Link: 22.7 km (7 km elevated,u00a0 15.7 km underground)
Train speed: 135 km /hr. Will take 18 min from New Delhi to airport
Six-coach train, half coach especially designed for baggage containers
Designed frequency 2 minutes
6 stations: New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Aerocity, IGI Airport, Dwarka Sec-21
Fare projected by Delhi Metro: Rs 100 between New Delhi and airport.
Fare projected for passengers who board the train at Dwarka Sector-29: Rs 30
Operational date: September 2010
Estimated cost: Rs 4,000 crore
