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Metro Takes A Plunge On Way To IGI
Feb24, 2011
Read All The Coverage about Delhi Metro Airport Express Line
Delhi Metro Airport Express Line - started finally 
Date - Feb24, 2011
FROM HEART OF CITY TO IGI AIRPORT IN 18 MINUTES
The Delhi Airport Metro Express line finally rolled out on Wednesday afternoon, four months after it was initially scheduled to start operations. The first public-private partnership venture in the rail sector took off only partially as work on two stations — out of the designated six — is yet to be completed.
On the first day, passengers were greeted with flowers and a gift amid tight CISF security monitoring access to the stations. The first train from NDLS to Dwarka ran with about 60% occupancy that included passengers and Metro officials. Services picked up only around evening as the afternoon trains got few passengers. At Dwarka, only two persons had reportedly purchased token till early evening.
Reliance-led concessionaire Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL) ran the first service at 2pm — when one train started from the New Delhi railway station and simultaneously another one took off from Dwarka Sector-21. DMRC MD E Sreedharan and Reliance Infra CEO Lalit Jalan were present for the flagging off ceremony. The total distance of 22.7km was covered in roughly 20 minutes while the distance from NDLS to IGI Station, in the absence of Dhaula Kuan and Aerocity stations, was covered in 18 minutes. According to DAMEPL figures, about 2,000 people travelled on the line between 2pm and 8pm, many of whom hopped on only to experience the service on the first day.
Check-in facilities are yet to be made available but once in place, passengers would be able to get boarding cards from NDLS, Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan stations. Official said that baggage trolleys had been displayed prominently on the concourse and at platforms though passengers complained that they were not easily visible.
The Airport Express Metro line will have six stations:
New Delhi - Shivaji stadium - Dhaula Kuan - Delhi Aerocity or NH8 - IGI Airport - Dwarka sector 21.
AIRPORT EXPRESS METRO LINE
Length 22.7 km
7 km elevated, 15.7 km underground
Frequency 10 min
expected
Expected ridership 42,500
by 2011
Cost of Construction 38,000cr
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Delhi Metro Airport Line - could start in few days
Date - Feb5, 2011
The much-awaited Airport Express Metro line finally got safety clearance from the commissioner of Metro rail safety on Monday evening. While the line is expected to become operational in around a week's time, CMRS R K Kardam has recommended cutting down the speed of the trains and reconsidering the security set-up.
“A few observations have been made, which I hope DMRC will address soon,” Kardam said. These include reducing speed from 120kmph that Delhi Airport Metro Express has been proposing to 105kmph and reviewing the use of private security on the line. While the concessionaire has proposed using private security, there have been reservations about the proposal, especially as CISF provides security in the rest of the Metro network. From NDLS to IGI Airport IN 20 MINUTES With the CMRS safety nod and the line ready for use, services on 22-km link could start in coming few days.
Airport Express Metro Line was given safety clearance on Monday (10-Jan-11) evening and the commissioner has made recommendations regarding the speed of trains and the security setup. “DMRC is already looking into the matter…I have asked it to approach the competent authority," said CMRS R KKardam.
Though DAMEPL officials refused to commit on when the link will be opened, sources said that with the line ready for use, services could become available within three-four days. Said a DAMEPL spokesperson, "We are yet to receive a formal letter from them (CMRS). Once we have that, a decision would be taken on an operation timetable."
The concessionaire also refused to reveal the fare chart, claiming that a final decision was "yet to be taken". Sources however, admitted that the concessionaire was hoping to keep it within the cap of Rs 150, the maximum fare for travel from New Delhi to IGIA or Dwarka sector 21. Said a DAMEPL official, "The fare will be commuter friendly…we would like to keep it less than the proposed Rs 150." The base fare meanwhile, will not "vary too much from DMRC rates," added the official. Sources however, say that the base fare will be substantially higher than DMRC's Rs 8, at around Rs 25-30.
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Delhi Metro on way to IGI
Jan9, 2009
 After constructing the second deepest Metro station in the world at Chawri Bazaar, a good 25 metres below the surface, Delhi Metro is bracing up to perform yet another engineering marvel. The tunnel for the Airport Express Line is going under the existing Rajeev Chowk metro station at a depth of 40 metres. The lowest point of Delhi Metro so far, constructing the tunnel is going to be a huge challenge for Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
Like Chawri Bazaar, the new tunnel will also be constructed using a Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) and will be equivalent to about 12 stories under the road level. The tracks for the highspeed link will come up under the existing station area as well as tracks for existing Line 3 (Dwarka to Indraprastha) and Line 2 (Central Secretariat to Vishwavidyalaya).
‘‘The tunnel had to be constructed at such a depth because we had to go under the foundation of the existing Metro station. At such low levels, the underground water pressure is very strong and can even blow up an entire station. A good foundation is created with deep tension piles to secure it. One needed to ensure that the tunnel doesn’t disturb this,’’ said a DMRC spokesperson.
The process will be monitored round the clock and several sophisticated guages and gadgetry are being installed on the tracks of the two existing Metro lines, the Rajeev Chowk station, and buildings in CP to ensure that there is no settlement. Even the TBM being used to drill at such a depth is differently designed to be able to withstand the high underground pressures. The TBMs have got retractable cutter heads which automatically change for rock and soil cutting. The tunnel will maintain a depth of 40 metres for a stretch of about 250 metres and the construction will take about a month.
The tunnel also passes directly under several heritage structures including Minto Bridge, Gol Dak Khana and old buildings of Connaught Place, which has posed another challenge before engineers. As the TBM cuts through soil and rock under the surface, the corporation needs to ensure that the vibrations don’t cause any cracks or disfigurement in the heritage structures. For this, each of these buildings will also be fitted with gauges and crack meters.
The tunnelling process has already been completed successfully under Minto bridge on January 12 this year without any impact on the structure, which is about 100 years old. DMRC had to obtain a clearance from the commissioner of railway safety before initiating the tunnelling process under it. The tunnel here is at a depth of about 25 metres. The tunnelling process for the stretch has already started and two TBMs have been lowered from shafts created near New Delhi station. The first tunnel is ready upto the Minto Road-Connaught Circus intersection. Over the next month, it will drill below the heritage structures of Connaught Place and reach the deepest point by March. ‘‘The entire tunnelling process will be complete by August this year,’’ the spokesperson added.
Modelled on the lines of London’s popular Heathrow Express, the Airport Express Line will start at New Delhi Railway Station and go to Dwarka via IGI airport. On the way, there will be stops at Shivaji Terminus, Dhaula Kuan and National Highway-8. The new service will be operational by July 2010 and promises a superfast ride from CP to IGI, in just 18 minutes. The trains will be different from the existing Delhi Metro ones, with five star facilities. The fare has been fixed at a maximum of Rs 150 till IGI and an additional Rs 30 to Dwarka, with a provision for monthly passes for airline staff and frequent fliers. This is the first Delhi Metro line to come up on a PPP model.
Useful information about IGI Express Line
- Length - 22.7 km — 7 km elevated, 15.7 km underground
- Stations - 6 — New Delhi Railway Station, Shivaji Terminus, Dhaula Kuan, NH-8, IGI Airport and Dwarka sector 21
- City Airport Terminal stations - New Delhi Railway station and Shivaji Terminus
- Train Speed - 135 kmph
- Estimated Journey time - 18 mins (from NDRS to IGI)
- Frequency - 10 mins in 2010; 6 mins by 2021
- Completion deadline - July 2010
- Expected ridership - 42,500 by 2010; 86,000 by 2021
- Construction cost - Rs 3,800 crore approx
- Number of tunnel boring machines to be used - 4
- Lowest point on tunnel - 40m
- Stretch where 40m depth maintained - 250m
- Maximum fare - Rs 150 (up to IGI), Rs 30 (IGI to Dwarka)
- Business Model - Public-private partnership (PPP) with DMRC developing the civil structures and later playing the watchdog for 30 years
Source: Times of India
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