Airport Metro line to reopen in Jan

After remaining suspended for about six months, services on the national capital's showcase airport Metro express is likely to resume before Republic Day.

After remaining suspended for about six months, services on the national capital's showcase airport Metro express is likely to resume before Republic Day.

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The commissioner of Metro rail safety (CMRS), RK Kardam, will conduct a safety inspection on the line on Tuesday and Wednesday, and if he gives a go-ahead, the line that connects New Delhi with Dwarka via IGI Airport will reopen in the fourth week of January.

"I have examined all the requisite papers and will inspect the line on Tuesday and Wednesday," said Kardam.

The concessionaire, Delhi Airport Metro Express Pvt Ltd (DAMEPL), a subsidiary of Reliance Infrastructure, will start operating trains on the line a couple of days after the safety clearance, said officials.

Services on the 22.7-km high-speed line, which also catered to locals, were suspended on July 8 after damage to bearings and clips was detected.

The corridor, the first public-private-partnership transport project in the country, underwent extensive repair on civil structure by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) after the operator had detected defects and suspended the service. The repair works were completed in October but the line cannot be thrown open as CMRS inspection was pending, said DMRC officials.

Earlier, there were plans to reopen the line for commuters in November last year.