Travel high speed at half the rate

For the next three days, commuters in the national capital can enjoy ride on the high-speed Airport Metro Express at 50 per count discount. The Airport Metro Express has been offering discount on its existing fare structure to popularise the corridor among the public.


Welcome on board: The projected ridership in 2011 was 40,000 per
day but at present it is just 8,000 per day. File pic

The existing maximum fare is Rs 100, while the minimum is Rs 20. The 50 per cent discount will be available at all the four operational stations on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Reliance Infra-led consortium, which runs the line, had earlier offered discounted fares last week on the occasion of Ram Navami and Baishaki. "The offer is also aimed at facilitating passengers to visit the Sacred Heart Cathedral church in Connaught Place, on Good Friday and Easter," a company spokesperson said.

The commuters can get down at Shivaji Stadium station located on Baba Kharak Singh Marg and reach the Church or Connaught place. "This discounted fare will encourage people to take the Airport Metro Express, which is secure, fast and comfortable way to reach Connaught place and New Delhi Railway station by avoiding the traffic jams, scorching summer heat and minimising travel time and cost," the spokesperson added.

The 23-km long link connecting New Delhi railway Station with the new swanky Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport was constructed at an expenditure exceeding Rs 5,800 crore. The projected ridership in 2011 was 40,000 per day. However, a due to a number of reasons including low frequency and speed coupled with lack of basic facilities like check-in counters, the ridership at present is lowu00a0 at 8,000 per day.