2 more stations ready and waiting

Two ‘futuristic’ stations on the 22-km-long showcase Airport Expressline are ready to open.

Two ‘futuristic’ stations on the 22-km-long showcase Airport Expressline are ready to open.

HT Image

Both stations — Dhaula Kuan and Aerocity (NH8) — will be operational once they get safety clearance.

“An application to invite the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety to inspect two stations has been submitted to the Delhi Metro last week,” said a spokesperson of Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL), the concessionaire company for the line.

Sources said that the safety inspection is expected to take place soon and the entire line is likely to be operational by the end of this month.

“Construction work at two stations is complete and we will commission the stations on receipt of safety clearance,” said the DAMEPL spokesperson.

The showcase line — which registers an average footfall of 8,000 per day (one-fourth of the expected ridership) — would see further a boost in its ridership once the two stations are operational, said officials.

Meanwhile, the Civil Aviation ministry has called on all concerned for a meeting on Thursday to discuss proposed baggage handling facilities at stations, said sources from the ministry.

“We are waiting for a go ahead from the Civil Aviation ministry on this,” said a senior DAMEPL official.

Meanwhile, the concessionaire company has been conducting regular trials on passenger and baggage check-in facilities for the past three weeks, said sources.

The line had become operational with four stations — New Delhi, Shivaji Stadium, IGI Airport and Dwarka Sector 21 — on February 23.