Delhi Airport Metro line opens!

[Protectionist Gareth]

Santosh Biradar, an engineer working for a major infrastructure conglomerate, took a risk today. Instead of the routine hiring of a taxi from the New Delhi station to catch a flight to Hyderabad, he decided to board the airport metro rail service on the first day of its operation. And the country’s first private-operated metro rail did not fail him. He not only reached the airport a good half an hour before usual time, but also saved money.

“It’s a revolution in the making for this country. This is a major step towards transport modernisation,” an excited Biradar said. The sheer joy of travelling at around double the average speed of most superfast trains in India seems to have thrilled him to the core.



Santosh is not alone in marvelling at the “world-class” infrastructure and services provided at the Airport Express Line of Delhi Metro. Most of the passengers on board the first metro train to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, with coaches imported from Spain, shared his enthusiasm.

“It is a dream come true. Travelling in this train makes me believe that we are in sync with the developed world now,” said another passenger Raghav Arora, a retired banker. “The monopoly of taxi drivers who used to harass us will end now. This outstanding service is not only a technological marvel, it is safe too,” he added.

Trains running on the 23-km stretch of the Airport Express Line, built at a cost of Rs 5,700 crore, followed schedule with a clockwork precision that, according to passengers, makes one doubt the need for traditional waiting rooms at railway stations. The opening of the line today for general public use has reduced the time of travel between the heart of the city and IGI airport to a mere 18 minutes as compared to about an hour till yesterday.

Trains on the line run at a speed of 105 kilometres per hour (kmph), which would soon be ramped up to 120 kmph. Also, the inaugural fare of Rs 80 between the New Delhi and Airport stations, which is free from the hassles of road transport in the capital, has become a major advantage for commuters. The charm and comfort of travelling in the airport line does not end here. The five-storey New Delhi station houses a huge shopping centre and a multi-level parking, too.

The metro corridor is manned by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). The line includes four stations to begin with — New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, IGI Airport and Dwarka Sector 21. Later, two new stations of Dhaula Kuan and NH-8 will be added.

“Apart from the savings of time and money, it is the cleanliness of the stations that attracted me. This will surely change the image of India as a country with garbage spilled in and round the railway stations,” said Hwang Soh-Young, a South Korean tourist travelling in the airport metro.

The only loose end that remains to be tied is the check-in facility for commuters which has so far been delayed owing to differences between the airlines and Reliance Infrastructure, the operator. Sources informed that check-in counters will be set up by airlines in a few weeks. As ridership increases, the “revolution” is set to be complete. After all, no revolution is successful without mass participation
Delhi Airport Metro line opens, offers travel in the lap of luxury

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he Capital will join a select few cities in the world to have a high-speed link to the airport with Delhi Metro's most sensitive line likely to start commercial operations from Wednesday, finally bringing the IGI airport closer to the city.

If all goes well and CISF completes its deployment process by tomorrow, the 23-km Airport Metro Express that connects the city's shopping hub of Connaught Place with the new swanky Terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport will be opened to the public on Wednesday.

However, a formal inauguration of the high-speed link, the first Metro corridor in the country to come up on the Public-Private-Partnership mode, is likely to take place later with sources indicating that high-profile dignitaries will be invited for the function.

Delhi Metro to start CP to IGI link

Both Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL)-- the Reliance Infra-led consortium that will run the corridor-- and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said they are hopeful that the Line will be begin operations on Wednesday with four operational stations - New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, IGI Airport and Dwarka Sec-21.

"We are hopeful that the Line will be operational from February 23. The CISF deployment is likely to be over anytime now. So in all probability the commercial operations will begin on Wednesday," a DMRC source said.

Other two stations -- Dhaula Kuan and Delhi Aero City -- are expected to be ready by the time the formal inauguration takes place, the sources said.

With this, Delhi will join world cities like London, Hong Kong, Seoul and Kuala Lumpur to have a high-speed link connecting the city with the International Airport.

The Delhi Airport Line was completed in a record 27 months' time. Sources in the CISF said the deployment of its forces on the high-speed corridor has been fast-tracked and it is likely to be over in a day or two.

"We usually take two to three weeks to complete our deployment. So, it should be over in a day or two," the sources said.

When the commercial operations start on Wednesday, passengers will not be able to check-in their baggage at the stations as talks with Air India and other private airlines are still on.

Sources said the facility will be available by the time the formal inauguration takes place, possibly in March.
Delhi Metro to start CP to IGI link - India News - IBNLive

'Better than the link in Sydney' - Hindustan Times

Airport metro station:

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[Protectionist Gareth]

'Better than the link in Sydney' - Hindustan Times

 

[Protectionist Gareth]

 

[prototype]

Why it is called the first privately opened metro,is it not a part of Delhi metro

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

Why it is called the first privately opened metro,is it not a part of Delhi metro

It's being operated by Reliance.

 

[KS]

The Govt needs to focus on Tier II cities also. No use in concentrating only on the metros.

The metro corporations more or less have money themselves tio fund the infrastructure but it is the Tier II cities that desperately need government aid to develop their infrastructure.

 

[Protectionist Gareth]

But Delhi has a huge population and it needed attention earlier,though it is way better now and in a pretty good condition,other cities should be focused on now.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

Investment needs to go into both Tier I and Tier II cities. It can't be an either or situation.

However, fact remains that Delhi is always the testing ground for all kinds of innovations, be it metro, CNG, BRT, etc etc.

 

[prototype]

The Govt needs to focus on Tier II cities also. No use in concentrating only on the metros.

The metro corporations more or less have money themselves tio fund the infrastructure but it is the Tier II cities that desperately need government aid to develop their infrastructure.

AFAIK many Indian cities r planning for metro rail,while feasibility studies undergoing in many cities,some had completed it,and some r now ready for it.

 

[Water Car Engineer]

Post this here too..

http://www.defence.pk/forums/general-images-multimedia/28463-india-developing-but-still-long-way-go-110.html#post1509835

 

[nescafe]

nice...one thing that i really miss in pakistan is a good metro system....

congratulations Delhi-iets...

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

AFAIK many Indian cities r planning for metro rail,while feasibility studies undergoing in many cities,some had completed it,and some r now ready for it.

The problem is that these metro lines are extremely expensive to build. The revenues are nowhere near enough for them to give proper returns.

Let me give you an example of the Delhi Metro. It is financed with 70% debt and 30% equity (15% each from central and state governments). This is the first year that they would be able to service their interest obligations (around Rs. 300 crores)!!!

Delhi metro does not have enough money for 3rd and 4th phases of expansion. Without Viability Gap funding from multilateral institutions like the World Bank, all these project are bound to be a drain on the exchequer.

So, should we build more air conditioned metros or more roads? That's the question.

 

[true_indian]

The problem is that these metro lines are extremely expensive to build. The revenues are nowhere near enough for them to give proper returns.

Let me give you an example of the Delhi Metro. It is financed with 70% debt and 30% equity (15% each from central and state governments). This is the first year that they would be able to service their interest obligations (around Rs. 300 crores)!!!

Delhi metro does not have enough money for 3rd and 4th phases of expansion. Without Viability Gap funding from multilateral institutions like the World Bank, all these project are bound to be a drain on the exchequer.

So, should we build more air conditioned metros or more roads? That's the question.

So is every other metro in every other country. But Metro is important to improve commuting in a city. It helps people move out of cities to near by suburbs. Cities would become massive in this decade. We need decent transportation. Just roads won't do it.

 

[Roybot]

'Better than the link in Sydney' - Hindustan Times

+1 to that. Can't wait to use it.

 

[twoplustwoisfour]

So is every other metro in every other country. But Metro is important to improve commuting in a city. It helps people move out of cities to near by suburbs. Cities would become massive in this decade. We need decent transportation. Just roads won't do it.

I agree that we need decent transportation. I also agree that just roads will not do it. But is metro the most cost effective option? Wouldn't you rather spend that money to develop new cities and move people OUT of Delhi? Personally I'm questioning the cost-benefit of metro, that's all.