The Airport Express Line of Delhi Metro, a showcase project and the country’s first private train service run by Reliance Infrastructure, is being criticised by experts, from within the government and outside.
The metro train service, built with an expenditure exceeding Rs 5,800 crore, connects the heart of the capital to Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. It was expected to usher in the beginning of a new era marking the private sector’s competence in the Indian rail sector. However, a host of factors — including issues of low frequency and speed coupled with lack of basic facilities like check-in counters — have ensured that ridership remains at a dismally low level of 8,000 every day. That make only 20 per cent of the total 40,000 passengers which transit through Terminal 3 of IGI daily. Full-fare domestic flights and all flights with international operations operate through T3.
"There are concerns. As an individual one can take the risk of venturing out to use the new airport metro service. But those with family and luggage want to be sure of a hassle free journey. There has to be clarity on availability of basic services like check-in facilities,” said Tarun Kumar Gupta, Senior manager, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
While the check-in facilities were planned to be provided from the first day of the opening of the line, they have been delayed owing to security concerns flagged by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and issues on payment of rental charges for the facilities which the airlines were reluctant to pay. After multiple round of negotiations between the concessionaire and the carriers over the past one month and the intervention of the civil aviation ministry, the matter was resolved last week.
Reliance began trials of baggage check-in facility on Tuesday with the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety and airlines.
Another major issue with the airport link, experts believe, is the short duration of 16 hours for which the service is currently available. “It has to be a 24-hour service, as is the case with most of such projects around the world. The airport link is losing out on those customers who are travelling outside the time-period between 6 am and 10 pm when the airport metro is available,” Gupta said.
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Reliance Infrastructure has rejects the concerns.
“We will increase the frequency once traffic picks up. The application for increasing the speed is already with the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety and its approval is awaited.” the company said in an e-mail reply to a Business Standard questionnaire.
On lack of mobile and platform connectivity, it said: All the mobile infrastructures have been put in place. RCom connectivity is already available. Discussions are also on with other Mobile Network Provider's to start their services. We have already requested DMRC to provide connectivity at Dwarka station between the platform of Airport Express Line and the line 3 of DMRC. Action is awaited from DMRC's end.”
The company also said that proper signages have been provided on the link and the issue of passenger amenities like tea or coffee vending machines will be taken care of when the retail outlets are opened.