Commuters using the Airport Metro Express Line, which has now passed into the hands of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation from Reliance Infra, want the travel to become affordable as the metro is essentially a mass transport service and not meant for any privileged class.
B.N. Nandan, a Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited employee, said the DMRC will have to reduce the travel cost if it wants to make this project viable.
“I found only 25 passengers while travelling on Monday by the Airport Express Line. I travel to Delhi once a month and feel that if tickets are cheaper then footfalls will increase.”
About a year ago, a ticket from Terminal-3 to New Delhi railway station was priced at Rs.60. “Subsequently, the ticket price was repeatedly increased, the latest in March from Rs.120 to Rs.150. As a result, the commuters have found alternative means of travel. A seat in an air-conditioned bus from the airport to Connaught Place costs only Rs.80.”
Shujaat Husain, a Pakistani national who made London his home 15 years ago, cannot comprehend why tickets on the Airport Express have been priced so steep. “I simply cannot understand why a commuter using this line should cough up Rs.150 per ticket. The other day I travelled from New Delhi railway station to Saket by a metro and had to pay only Rs.18. Even if commuters using this line are rich people who can afford airline tickets, they should not be overcharged.”
Comparing the Airport Express Line with the London Underground, Mr. Husain said the former was better in some areas. “It is cleaner, platforms are spic and span, and the air-conditioning is good. Of course, in London Underground one does not need A/C but heaters.”
A senior citizen from Chennai, Narain Swami, said there are not enough signages to indicate to commuters at New Delhi railway station where the Airport Express Line starts. “Last month I travelled to France, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and had a comfortable experience while travelling there because of adequate signages.”
Former United States resident Akshay Bhargav said though the fare was slightly on the higher side, the quality offered was exemplary. “I am an experienced traveller and have also been to Denver and New York airports in the United States. The travel experience with the Delhi Metro and the service provided here is of high quality. Even if I compare the travel experience from the JFK Airport in New York to Manhattan through subway, I will still say that Airport Metro Line is much better.”
