Airport Express line likely to start soon

The much-awaited Airport Express line, which failed to meet the Commonwealth Games deadline due to technical shortcomings, may soon become operational.

The much-awaited Airport Express line, which failed to meet the Commonwealth Games deadline due to technical shortcomings, may soon become operational.

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A team of technical staff of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) inspected the line on Thursday and found it fit for operation.

Mangu Singh, director (works), DMRC, said: “We have examined all aspects of the service and found it fit to start. Reliance Infrastructure just needs to acquire fire safety clearance. Immediately after this we will invite Commissioner of Metro
Railway Safety to inspect and give safety clearance.”

Reliance Infrastructure was responsible for getting the line ready.

The commissioner, who had inspected this line on September 27 and 28, had found certain technical deficiencies such as a signalling problem and had therefore, not given the safety clearance.

A Reliance Infrastructure official said: “We have resolved technical shortcomings mostly related to signalling that were identified by the commissioner last month which resulted in the service failing to meet the Games deadline. Now, we are ready and have approached the DMRC to invite the commissioner for inspection.”

The DMRC decided to get the safety clearance after the commissioner’s inspection before the Games.

To avoid further embarrassment, the DMRC decided to invite commissioner only if it found the line fit for operations.