Airport Express Metro Line Completes One Year Under DMRC Union Minister of Civil Aviation Visits the Line.

The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Sh. Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati, today travelled by the Airport Express Metro line and interacted with the passengers using the Line and asked the airport authorities to explore the possibility of starting a free shuttle bus service connecting the Delhi Aerocity Metro station with the domestic terminal of the Airport (T-1) so that passengers travelling through Terminal-1 can also use the Airport Express Line. Most of the passengers interacting with the Minister expressed their satisfaction with the Airport Express Line for its convenient, safe, hassle free and air conditioned services. 

He traveled from Shivaji Stadium Metro station to the IGI Airport Metro station on his way to the IGI Airport for an official inspection. He also used the Airport Express line to come back from the Aerocity Metro station to Shivaji Stadium Metro station. 

Today also marks the completion of one year since the DMRC took over the operations of the Airport Express line from the concessionaire. In the last one year, a series of measures have been taken to further popularize the Airport Express line. 

As a result, the average daily ridership on the Airport Express line increased by 28 percent to 12,856 in June, 2014 from 10,069 in July, 2013. 

The details of these measures are as follows:

· The frequency of trains has been improved from 15 minutes to 10 minutes 30 seconds during the peak operating hours (Morning Peak: 8 AM to 10.33 AM, Evening Peak: 04.35 PM to 08.11 PM). 
· The maximum speed of the trains was increased to 80 kmph from 70 kmph. Therefore, the travel time from New Delhi to IGI Airport reduced to 19 minutes only.
· The total number of train trips daily also was increased to 166 from 148.
· The timing of the first service of the day was rescheduled to 4.45 AM from New Delhi and Dwarka Sector 21. Earlier, the first train timings were 5.30 AM from New Delhi and 5.15 AM from Dwarka Sector 21.
· DMRC initiated a number of promotional campaigns covering around 50 RWAs in Dwarka Sub-Cityarea, Government Offices in Central Delhi. 
· Advertisements were also placed inside the trains and major terminal stations, besides reaching out to students of Delhi University, South Campus for using Airport Line. 
· Seamless Interchange facility was started from Dwarka Sec-21 (Airport Line) to Dwarka Sec-21(Blue Line) Metro station to facilitate commuters in Aug, 2013 
· Parking facility was started at Delhi Aerocity Metro station w.e.f Sept 1, 2013. Parking area at Dwarka Sec-21 was increased from 2064 sq. m to 6965 sqm (237% increase w.e.f July 16, 2013)
· Feeder Bus service from Delhi Aerocity to T1 was also made available at a frequency of 15 min from 06:00 AM to 10:00 PM