New Delhi:
Travelling on the Airport Express Line service of Delhi Metro is set to get cheaper from this Friday as its operator has decided to further slash fares on the route by up to 50 per cent.
"As per the revised fare structure applicable from this Friday, the minimum single journey fare on the corridor will be Rs 10 as against the earlier Rs 20."
"The maximum fare will be Rs 60 as against the earlier Rs 100," the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said today.
Metro officials said that the fares are being cut mainly to encourage commuters from Dwarka sub-city to take the Airport Express Line instead of the Blue Line, which runs from Dwarka Sector 21 to Noida/Vaishali.
"This will also help decongest the Blue Line, especially during peak hours, as it is one of the busiest corridors of the Delhi Metro network. The benefit of lesser travel time on the Airport Express Line will also be communicated to the passengers," a senior official said.
Once the rate cut come into effect, a one-way journey from the New Delhi Metro station to Dwarka Sector 21 using a single journey token will now cost only Rs 60. The detailed revised fare chart would be available on the DMRC website, www.delhimetrorail.com, and at all stations on the Airport Express Line.
The fare-store value card offered to the commuters will have a further discount of 10 per cent as well, DMRC added.
Fares of the Airport Express Line were reduced by up to 40 per cent on July 24 last year.
"As a result of that measure, the average daily ridership on the corridor increased significantly from around 13,000 in June, 2014, to more than 20,000 in February earlier this year."
"On August 28, 2015, more than 32,000 people travelled by the Airport Express Line," it said.
Travellers on the premium 23-km corridor, also known as the Orange Line, take about 15 minutes to reach the airport from New Delhi station.