Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) After undergoing a two-day safety check, the Delhi Metro’s high-speed Airport Express Line received a security clearance Monday, an official said, adding that operations may begin next week.A Delhi Metro official told IANS that the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) has given his approval.

“The Airport Express Line will has got the approval of the CMRS. It will now be operational very soon,” the official said.

Built through a public-private partnership between the Delhi Metro and Reliance Infrastructure, the line will finally be operational after a delay of more than three months.

“The commissioner in charge of Metro rail safety conducted a two-day inspection of the corridor on Friday and Saturday and the clearance was given,” the DMRC official said.

The Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL) will be operating the line.

“We are yet to receive a formal letter from CMRS. As soon as we receive it, we will make arrangements for making it operational. In all probability, the line should start next week,” a DAMEPL official told IANS.

The 23-km link will connect the central shopping district of Connaught Place with the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. It promises to take commuters from New Delhi Railway Station to the airport in 18 minutes.

The line has six stations — New Delhi Railway Station, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan, Delhi Aero City, Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and Dwarka Sec-21. The idea was also for setting up check-in facilities of airlines at the Metro stations.

The DAMEPL official added that a technical inspection was also conducted recently by an Air India team at the stations and it was satisfied with the facilities. The flag carrier is likely to sign an agreement to set up its check-in counters at the stations soon.

“Air India has already given us a verbal assurance. We are also negotiating with other airlines for their check-in counters,” he said.