Delhi Airport Metro Express

Airport Express Line
Overview
Type	Airport Express Train
Termini	New Delhi station Dwarka Sector 21
Stations	6[1]
Daily ridership	~20,000[2]
Website	www.delhiairportexpress.com
Operation
Owner	Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt. Ltd.
Operator(s)	Reliance Infrastructure and CAF
Character	At-grade, underground, and elevated
Rolling stock	CAF
Technical
Line length	22.7 km[1]
Track gauge	standard gauge
Electrification	25 kV, 50 Hz AC through overhead catenary
Operating speed	132 km/h top speed.
Route map Legend New Delhi(⇄ yellow line) Blue Line Shivaji Stadium Ring Railway Dhaula Kuan Delhi-Gurgaon expressway Delhi Aerocity IGI Airport - T3 Dwarka Sector 21(⇄ blue line) This route map:  view talk edit

The Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME) is a Delhi Metro line from New Delhi Metro Station to Dwarka Sector 21, linking the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The line, also known as the Orange line is operated by the Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt. Limited (DAMEL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, the concessionaire of the line,^[3][4] and opened on February 23, 2011 at 2p.m.^[5] after missing four previously set deadlines.^[6] It was built at a cost of 57 billion,^[7] of which Reliance Infra paid 28.85 billion (U$580m),^[8] Reliance Infra will also pay fees on a Revenue-share model^[7][9]

The total length of the line is 22.7 km^[10] of which 15.7 km is underground^[11] and 7 km is elevated from Buddha Jayanti Park and Mahipalpur.^[12] The trains travel at up to 135 km/h, instead of up to 80 km/h on the rest of the metro. Travel time is 18 mins from New Delhi to the Airport T3.^[7]

History

The first tenders for line construction were awarded in September 2007.^[13] On Jan 23, 2008, the DMRC awarded a 30 year build-operate-transfer PPP contract to the Reliance Energy-CAF consortium.^[14] However, DMRC paid for half of the construction cost and executed tunneling and civil works.^[14]

The elevated section of the Airport Express Line was built over eight busy roads which carry a heavy volume of traffic, including the Ring Road, National Highway 8, Ridge Road and Sardar Patel Marg.^[15][16]

Originally scheduled to open by August 31, 2010, well in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the line finally opened on February 23, 2011 at 2 PM^[5] after missing four previously set deadlines.^[17] The DMRC fined Reliance Infra 37.5 lakh every day from 30 September, and 75 lakh every day from 31 October for repeatedly missing the deadlines.^[18] The Aerocity and Dhaula Kuan stations opened on 15 August 2011.

Map

Operations

While planned to run trains 24 hours a day with a frequency of 10 minutes, train services currently operate from 5 AM to 11 PM,^[19] with trains every 12-20 minutes in line with current passenger demand.

While originally expected to carry 42,000 people daily by 2011 as per detailed project report prepared by DMRC, actual ridership has hovered around 20,000.^[2][20]

Fare

The fare for commuting has been fixed at 80 (US$1.6) for travel from New Delhi station to IGI Airport and 100 (US$2) for commuting from New Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21.^[10] There are also passes available for 10 and 60 trips costing 600 (US$11.97) and 1,200 (US$23.94) respectively for travelling from Dwarka-21 to Shivaji Stadium Station (Connaught Place); or New Delhi station to IGI Airport. This keeps the per trip cost at 60 (US$1.2) and 20 (US$0.4) respectively and are valid for one calendar month. There are other such passes available for different origin destination combinations. Stored Value cards are also on offer which will give 5% discount on all the trips. Overall fare structure has been deeply discounted currently by the concessionaire, actual fare allowed for maximum fare is Rs. 180 from New Delhi to Dwarka-21 which has been kept at only Rs. 100. Current airport express fares are cheaper than any other modes of transport to reach airport.^[21]

Stations

All the six metro stations on the line are known as City Airport Terminals (CATs). They are fitted with state-of-the-art gadgets like explosive detectors, large x-ray baggage scanners, under vehicle scanners, quick reaction teams and dog squads to ensure full security of commuters and baggage alike. The stations have full height platform screen doors to prevent untoward incidents and better air conditioning. All the stations are secured with a network of CCTV cameras which relays live images to the station control room, security control room and operations control centre. The security of the airport line is handled by Central Industrial Security Force who also handles the safety of all the stations of DMRC. All the stations are disabled friendly so that people on wheelchairs can access them with facilities such as stations with ramps having a mild slope leading to elevators, the elevators are specially designed for the convenience of physically challenged people and capable of carrying stretchers, help call points are located at various points of stations and trains so that in case of any emergency, a disabled person can seek help by just pressing the call buttons. The elevators can be used by visually impaired persons with the elevator buttons having Braille letters.^[22]

Expansion Plans

The line is planned to be extended beyond Dwarka Sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon.^[23] The 12km^[24] extension will have a 1.5km long underground section, while the rest will be elevated.^[23]

Commuters will be able to travel between Gurgaon and Shivaji Stadium in 30 minutes.^[23] Gurgaon to the Airport would be 14 minutes.^[25]

The cost of the 12km extension is Rs 1830 crore.^[26] HUDA will pay for 80% of the cost and New Delhi will pay the remaining 20%.^[27]

Infrastructure

Siemens Mobility is providing Signalling, Power Transmission, Baggage Handling System enabling passenger to check-in with baggage at the New Delhi Railway Station and Shivaji Stadium, with check -in 1200 passenger per hour capacity.^[4][32] The €34 million was expected to be completed by 2010 in time for the Commonwealth games but could not manage to meet the deadline. Alcatel is supplying the communications systems.^[8] Indra Sistemas is providing the ticket machines. Faiveley is providing the platform screen doors. BLUESTAR / Honeywell is the Control & Automation Provider for Station Management System (SMS).Bluestar is the main BEMS system provider.

The line will be the first line in the country to be mapped on Geographic Information System to enhance safety, maintenance and traffic regulation and will help in mobilising emergency services in case of an accident.^[33]

Rolling stock

Eight 6-car trains supplied by CAF Beasain of Spain were imported.^[10] CAF holds 5% equity in the DAME project, Reliance Infrastructure holds the remaining 95%.^[8] The trains on this line are of a premium standard and have in-built noise reduction features for a noise-free ride with padded fabric seats. The coaches are equipped with LCD screens for entertainment of the passengers and also provide flight information for convenience of air travellers. The trains are fitted with an event recorder which can withstand high levels of temperature and impact and the wheels have flange lubrication system for less noise and better riding comfort.^[33]

Based on the consultancy by MTR, the interior design of the rolling stocks are highly similar to that of Airport Express line in MTR Hong Kong which also uses CAF trains.

Tracks

To ensure safety the tracks are fitted with RHEDA-2000 signalling technology, which theoretically allows trains to travel at up to 350 km/h (nearly three times the actual maximum speed of current trains).^[34] The entire 22.7 km route is ballast-less track, which costs 40–50% more than normal train tracks, but does not take longer to lay than traditional tracks. The rails rest on rubber pads on the concrete sleepers.^[34]

The 7 km elevated section from Buddha Jayanti Park to Mahipalpur has been built with 25m long girders for the first time in India.^[12] The 504 girders weigh 120 tons each and are being cast in Mahipalpur and transported on 35m long trailers with 64 tyres.^[12]

Check-in Facility

The line has the first check in facility outside an airport in South Asia.

Passengers flying with Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines which use T3 terminal as base of operations can now check in at the New Delhi Metro Station. Check can be done anytime before 6 hours to 2 and half hours before departure time. Passengers flying for international flights can also check in as this facility has been started from February 22, 2012.

WiFi Service

The Airport Express line has introduced WiFi services at all stations along the route on 13 January 2012. This makes it the first line of the Delhi Metro to provide WiFi services. All 6 stations along the Express Route are WIFI enabled. Connectivity inside metro trains travelling on the route is expected in the future. The WiFi service is provided by YOU Broadband & Cable India Limited.^[35] The service makes Delhi Metro the second metro in India to provide WiFi services to passengers after the Namma Metro in Bangalore.

Post Office

The post office will have all basic postal services like speed post, e-post, express parcel, registered post, postal stamps and revenue stamps on all working days from 10 AM to 4 PM.

Both commuters and non-commuters can avail the benefit of this postal service as the counter is located at the non paid area of New Delhi metro station's concourse level.

Movie Shooting And promotional venue

Ever since Shah Rukh Khan boarded the Reliance Metro Airport Express line in October this year to promote "Ra.One", the new line has become the cynosure of most Bollywood promotions in the capital. Actor Abhishek Bachchan, along with co-stars Sonam Kapoor and Neil Nitin Mukesh headed to the Airport line to promote his movie "Players" in Delhi, and also attempted to break a safe while travelling from one station of the Airport line to another.

• Promotions

1. SRK for 'Ra.One' - Airport Express
2. SRK, Priyanka Chopra, Farhan Akhtar, Ritesh Sidhwani for 'Don 2' - Airport Express New Delhi Station
3. Manoj Bajpayee, Tia Bajpai and Maqbool Khan for 'Lanka' - Airport Express line
4. Emraan Hashmi for 'The Dirty Picture' - Rajiv Chowk metro station
5. Star cast of 'Players' - Airport Express Line

• Shootings

1. 'Jannat 2' - Reliance Metro Shivaji Stadium Metro Station
2. 'Kismat Love Paisa Dilli- Reliance Metro Shivaji Stadium Metro Station
3. Tamil Film 'Thaandavam' - Reliance Metro Shivaji Stadium Metro Station

See also

• Delhi Metro

External links

• Reliance Metro Airport Express Line

References

v t e Delhi Metro Red Line Dilshad Garden - Rithala Yellow Line Jahangirpuri - HUDA City Centre Blue Line Noida City Centre - Dwarka Sector 21 Blue Line branch Yamuna Bank - Vaishali Green Line Inderlok - Mundka Green Line branch Ashok Park Main - Kirti Nagar Violet Line Central Secretariat - Badarpur Airport Express New Delhi - IGI Airport - Dwarka Sector 21