Now, free ride on Metro's swanky Airport line

Yet to take a trip to the Delhi Metro's swanky high speed Airport Expressline? Perhaps you won't mind a free joyride. Subhendu Ray reports.

Yet to take a trip to the Delhi Metro's swanky high speed Airport Expressline? Perhaps you won't mind a free joyride.

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Facing poor footfalls, Reliance Infrastructure is trying to popularise the expensive service by offering a free ride to 2.6 million BSES power consumers.

"This is a promotional drive to generate awareness about the service among Delhiites," a company spokesperson said.

At Rs 20-100, the Expressline ticket is more expensive than the usual Metro ticket.

Free ride coupons come attached with power bills. The company started distributing them last month and plans to cover the whole city in a phased manner.

This is the second promotional offer for the Expressline. Reliance has earlier offered discounts on tickets on festivals, once on the occasion of Ram Navami and Vaishakhi, and again on Good Friday.

"We will also continue with the seasonal festive offer of 50% discount on rides," the spokesperson added.

After missing several deadlines, Expressline was launched four months ago, connecting New Delhi Railway Station with Dwarka via the airport. Reliance targeted 30,000 daily commuters for the service, but it attracts only 12,000 people on average.

The service has failed to meet expected standards. It runs at 105km per hour, although the company had promised 120km per hour.

Two "futuristic" stations were supposed to open at Dhaula Kuan and Aerocity (National Highway 8) within a few days of the launch of the 22.7km stretch in February.

Workers at these stations said they are not yet complete.

The Reliance spokesperson said the stations are ready and awaiting safety inspection and clearance by the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS).

RK Kardam, CMRS, however, said he was yet to receive all necessary documents needed for inspection from Reliance.