DMRC finally succeeds in getting Airport Express Line back on track

Reliance-led Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited had in 2012 approached DMRC asking it to terminate the contract citing financial non-viability of the project

Three years after taking over the Airport Express Line metro system, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has turned around the fortunes of the marquee project. Footfalls on the 23-km metroline that connects the New Delhi railway station in the heart of Delhi to the airport has increased four times.

DMRC slashed the fare to Rs 60 from Rs 180 in a span of three years, bringing cheer to its riders and also operators. "During the first year of our taking over till July 2014, we did not tinker with the fare and only worked towards improving the efficiency of the service," a DMRC official told Business Standard.

Maximum fare on the airport express - in July 2013 - was Rs 180 when Reliance Infrastructure exited the project. The ridership was 10,000 per day then. In July 2014, ridership rose to 21,000 per day after the maximum ticket cost was slashed to Rs 100.

Reliance Infrastructure-led Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited that commenced operations in February 2011 had approached DMRC in 2012 to terminate the contract citing financial non-viability of the project. DMRC took over operations of the Express Line in July 2013 after the latter exited the project.

The third fare revision on the line took place in September 2015, when the fares were reduced further to Rs 60, which led to an increase in ridership to 36,000, till June 2016. On July 26, 2016, the first day of the three-wheeler strike in Delhi, the commuter traffic on the line was 43,785.

Now, the big question in front of DMRC is what next to improve the system. "We are constantly deliberately ways to increase revenue from this project," the official said.

DMRC has tied up with Air India to provide check-in facility to the national carrier's passengers at stations along the route. Another important source of revenue for DMRC is rentals and space at some of the metro stations has been rented out for offices.

Reliance Infrastructure earned about Rs 3 crore annually from rentals, while we have been able to earn about Rs 24 crore from rentals annually, the official added.

DMRC has even written to various central and Delhi government departments to encourage officials to use the Airport Express Line for their travel to the airport.

Urban Development minister Venkaiah Naidu, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and Civil Aviation Minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju regularly use the airport line, the official stated.