Delhi Airport Metro Express from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia
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Delhi Airport Metro Express From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia The Delhi Airport Metro Express (DAME) is a Delhi Metro line from New Delhi Metro Airport Express Line Station to Dwarka Sector 21, linking the Indira Gandhi International Airport. The line, also known as the Orange line was opened on 23 February 2011[3] after missing four previously set deadlines.[4] It was built at a cost of 57 billion,[5] of which Reliance Infra paid 28.85 billion (U$580m),[6] Reliance Infra will also pay fees on a Revenue-share model[5][7] Overview Type Airport Express Train The total length of the line is 22.7 km,[8] of Termini New Delhi station which 15.7 km is underground[9] and 7 km, from Buddha Jayanti Park and Mahipalpur, is Dwarka Sector 21 elevated.[10] The trains travel at up to Stations 6[1] 135 km/h, instead of up to 80 km/h as on the Daily ridership ~20,000[2] rest of the metro. Travel time is 18 mins from New Delhi to the Airport T3.[5] Operation Owner Reliance Infrastructure and CAF Service was suspended from 7 July 2012 to 22 Operator(s) Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt. Ltd. January 2013 due to technical problems.[11] After reopening, the speed was cut to only Character At-grade, underground, and elevated 50 km/hr, extending journey time from the Rolling stock CAF airport to New Delhi Station to over 40 Technical minutes.[11] On 27 June 2013 Reliance Infrastructure Ltd. intimated DMRC that they Line length 22.7 km (14.1 mi)[1] are unable to operate the line beyond 30 June Track gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 81⁄ in) standard gauge 2013. Following this DMRC took over 2 operations of Airport Express line from 1 July Electrification 25 kV, 50 Hz AC through overhead 2013 with an Operations and Maintenance catenary [12] team of 100 officials to handle the line. Operating 132 km/h top speed. speed History The first tenders for line construction were awarded in September 2007.[13] On 23 Jan 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 31 August 2010, well in time for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the line finally opened on 23 February 2011 at 2 pm[3] after missing four previously set deadlines.[17] The DMRC fined Reliance Infra 3750,000 every day from 30 September, and 7.5 million every day from 31 October for repeatedly missing the deadlines.[18] The Aerocity and Dhaula Kuan stations opened on 15 August 2011. Services were suspended on 8 July 2012 due to a series of technical problems,[19] including cracks in the girders, the iron beams that support the tracks; dislocated bearings that support the train; defective tracks and water seepage in tunnels.[20] The Urban Development Ministry subsequently disclosed that several clips in the underground section have been seriously damaged and it will take at least 5 months to rectify the problem.[21] A joint inspection by Delhi Metro and Reliance Infrastructure team has revealed that 540 bearings need rectification and some girders which have cracked also need to be recast.[22] The line reopened on 23 January 2013, operating at a reduced speed of 50 km/hr. The speed will be gradually increased later after periodic inspections by the DMRC and other experts. At the reduced speed the time travel from New Delhi Metro Station to Airport will now be around 40–50 minutes and will take an hour for Dwarka Sector 21 metro Station. Over the next 3–4 months, the speed may be increased to 90 km/h and it is expected that towards the end of 2013, if the Safety Clearance Team gives a thumbs up, then the train will run again at 105 km/h, the original speed. Map Operations While it was initially planned to run trains 24 hours a day with a frequency of 10 minutes, train services currently operate from 5:15 am to 11:30 pm,[23] with a 15-minute frequency. 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][24] Fare The fare for commuting has been fixed at 100 (US$1.60) for travel from New Delhi station to IGI Airport and 180 (US$2.90)"Delhi Airport Metro fares hiked" (http://www.hindustantimes.com/India- news/NewDelhi/Delhi-Airport-Metro-fares-hiked/Article1-1022348.aspx). for commuting from New Delhi to Dwarka Sector 21.[8] There are also passes available for 10 and 60 trips costing 600 (US$9.70) and 2400 (US$39) 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 (97¢ US) and 40 (65¢ US) 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 had been kept at only Rs. 100. Current airport express fares are cheaper than any other modes of transport to reach airport.[25] Stations All the six metro stations on the line are known as City Airport Terminals (CATs). They are fitted with state-of- Delhi Airport Metro Express the-art gadgets like explosive detectors, large x-ray Legend baggage scanners, under vehicle scanners, quick reaction Indian Railways teams and dog squads to ensure full security of commuters New Delhi Yellow Line and baggage alike. The stations have full-height platform Blue Line screen doors to prevent untoward incidents and to provide Shivaji Stadium better air conditioning. All the stations are secured with a network of CCTV cameras which relays live images to the Ring Railway station control room, security control room and operations control centre. The security of the airport line is handled Dhaula Kuan by Central Industrial Security Force who also handles the Delhi-Gurgaon expressway safety of all the stations of DMRC. Delhi Aerocity All the stations are disabled friendly so that people on Airport wheelchairs can access them with facilities such as stations Dwarka Sector 21 Blue Line with ramps having a mild slope leading to elevators, the Brijwasan elevators are specially designed for the convenience of physically challenged people and capable of carrying Palam Vihar stretchers, help call points are located at various points of Maruti Udyog stations and trains so that in case of any emergency, a National Highway 8 disabled person can seek help by just pressing the call IFFCO Chowk Yellow Line buttons. The elevators can be used by visually impaired persons with the elevator buttons having Braille letters.[26] Inside New Delhi Station Orange Line Station # Opening Connections Layout Name Indian Railways-New Delhi New Delhi 23 February 1 Railway Station Underground station 2011 and Yellow Line Shivaji 23 February 2 None Underground Stadium 2011 Dhaula 15 August 3 None Elevated Kuan 2011 Delhi 15 August 4 None Underground Aerocity 2011 23 February 5 Airport Airport Terminal 3 Underground 2011 Dwarka 23 February 6 Blue Line Underground Sector 21 2011 Expansion plans The line is to be extended beyond Dwarka Sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk in Gurgaon.[27] The 12 km[28] extension will have a 1.5-kilometre-long (0.93 mi) underground section, while the rest will be elevated.[27] Commuters will be able to travel between Gurgaon and Shivaji Stadium in 30 minutes.[27] Gurgaon to the Airport would be 14 minutes.[29] The Orange Line will soon join the RapidMetroRail Gurgaon Line. Aerocity and Dhaula Kuan stations will be the future interchanging stations of this line. The Mukundpur-Shiv Vihar Line will pass through Dhaula Kuan station and there will be a direct link between this line and the Faridabad line, which is being proposed and expected to finish it by 2016. By 2016, Gurgaon, New Delhi and Faridabad will be the 3 major cities where they can commute to the airport easily and directly without facing any traffic jams. The cost of the 12 km extension is Rs 18.30 billion.[28] HUDA will pay for 80% of the cost and New Delhi will pay the remaining 20%.[28] The Final and the last hurdle was cleared for Extension line on 26 May 2014 when it got the approval from the Government of Haryana, according to Hindustan Times [30] The Proposed Line passes from Dwarka sector 21 to IFFCO Chowk via Maruti and NH-8. The line is expected to get operational in March 2016. Extension Station Name # Opening Connections Layout English Hindi Bijwasan बजवासन Bijwasan ( - 7 (Delhi-Haryana दल 2016[32] Modern Railway Underground border)[31] हरयाणा Station बाडर) Airport Express Palam Vihar - Branch Line OR 8 पालम वहार 2016[32] Elevated Sector 23[31][33] - सेटर 23 Feeder service line Maruti Udyog - मात Rapid MetroRail 9 - 2016[32] Elevated Sector 18[31][33] उयोग Gurgaon सेटर 18 National Delhi-gurgaon 10 Highway राय [32] Elevated 8 2016 Expressway 8[31][33] राजमाग IFFCO 11 2016[32] Yellow Line Elevated Chowk[31] इफको चौक This extension line will have one branched line or feeder service line to cater the need of Old Gurgaon.