New Delhi:
Delhi's high-speed Airport Express link may start operating in the next 10-15 days, initially with a 16-hour service with the Delhi Metro today sending additional papers sought by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety to facilitate an early inspection of the corridor.
Delhi Metro chief E Sreedharan said work on the 22-km line that connects the city's shopping hub Connaught Place with the International Airport is "fully complete" and operations can start "within 24 hours" after the CMRS gives the green signal.
He said CMRS R K Kardam has pointed out valid but "very, very minute" issues on the corridor and the Delhi Metro has clarified things to him.
"Work on the line is complete. There is no problem relating to work on the (Airport Express) line. We are just waiting for the CMRS to inspect the line. He was on a long leave and that now he has come back, we are waiting for him," he told reporters during an informal interaction here.
"He raised some valid queries. We are responding to them and we hope that the line will be inspected shortly," he said.
He said both Airport Line and a small stretch between Sarita Vihar and Badarpur will be opened in the next 10-15 days. Both lines missed the Commonwealth Games deadline and the Airport corridor failed a safety test in September.
Mangu Singh, Director (Works), Delhi Metro told PTI that the line may start with a 16-hour service with trains running from 6 AM to 10 PM.
"It can be extended...But most likely the line will start with a 16-hour service. The concessionaire is also ready for operating the line," he said.
About the CMRS inspection, he said response for the clarification sought by the CMRS on the Airport Line is being sent.
"The CMRS got back to us on Wednesday about some issues on which more clarity is needed. We complied them all through yesterday and today it is being sent," he said and hoped that the inspection will take place at the earliest.
The Reliance Infrastructure-led consortium, which will operate the line, says it is ready to run services for 20 hours from day one.
Sreedharan also said trial runs on the Airport Express Line have been successful and he is satisfied with the work on the Line.
"I am happy. The work is complete and I myself travelled on the train which runs at a speed of 120 km per hour," he said.
On the reluctance on part of Airlines' to set up check-in counters at select stations, the DMRC chief said Air India has assured them that it will set up counters.
"They will set up within 48 hours of notice. Once Air India comes, other private airlines may also follow suit," he said.