Ever since the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) took over operations of the Airport Express Line a year ago, the average daily ridership has increased by 28 per cent from 10,069 in July 2013 to 12,856 in June 2014.
The hike in ridership follows a series of initiatives taken by DMRC to promote the Airport Express Line among Resident Welfare Associations in Dwarka sub-city areas and government offices in Central Delhi. Further, advertisements were placed inside trains and major terminal stations that targeted Delhi University South Campus students to use the line.
Tuesday marked one year since operations were taken over by DMRC which has introduced a series of measures to popularise the 22.7 km line that links New Delhi Railway Station to the IGI Airport. With the maximum speed increasing to 80 kmph, the travel time between the heart of the city to the airport has reduced to 19 minutes.
“The frequency of trains has been improved from 15 minutes to 10 minutes 30 seconds during the peak operating hours and the total number of train trips daily also has increased from 148 to 166,” said a DMRC statement.
While previously the first service of the day began at 5.30 a.m., under the DMRC it has been rescheduled to 4.45 a.m. from New Delhi and Dwarka Sector-21.
According to DMRC, parking facilities were put in place at Dwarka Sec-21 and interchange facilities linking the Airport Line to the Blue Line in Dwarka Sec-21 came into effect from August 2013.
To mark the occasion Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday travelled the 22.7 km line that links New Delhi to the IGI Airport.
The Minister travelled from Shivaji Stadium to the Airport Metro station on his way to the IGI Airport for an official inspection.
