Domestic services to T-3 will boost Airport Metro profits

The Central government wants all passenger flights to operate from Terminal-3. The Civil Aviation Ministry had recently asked the Delhi airport operator to come up with a concrete plan to shift all operation related to passenger aircraft from Terminal-1D to Terminal-3.

According to the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Terminal-3 is well connected with the Airport Express Metro line. Two Airport Express Metro stations (T-3 and Aero City) already function at the IGI Airport, carrying thousands of passengers <g data-gr-id="44">everyday</g> and the third Metro station (T-1D) on  the Noida-

Janakpuri line is in the advanced stages of construction. 

Talking to Millennium Post, Delhi Metro MD Mangu Singh said: “If flight operation from Terminal 1-D will be shifted to Terminal 3, Airport Express passengers’ number will increase automatically.”

“This step will <g data-gr-id="27">certainty</g> boost the Express Line ridership. At present, passengers, who want to avail the Airport Express service but can’t due to the lack of direct connectivity opt for taxis. But if the entire flight operation is shifted to Terminal-3, it is certain that they will opt for the Airport Express Line,” said a senior DMRC official on the condition of anonymity.

DMRC is also in the process of constructing a 40-km line connecting Kalindi Kunj and Noida’s Botanical Garden with Janakpuri, which will link the domestic airport with areas in South, West and East Delhi. Services on the corridor are expected to commence in 2016.

DMRC’s Airport Express Line had recorded about 30 per cent rise in its ridership, following the fare reduction of up to 40 <g data-gr-id="25">per cent</g> in July last year. DMRC has also taken a slew of measures to attract commuters to the line, operations of which it took over from Reliance Infrastructure in July 2013, a spokesperson said.

According to data provided by the Delhi Metro, the ridership figures of July 2013 and July 2014 were recorded as 3,12,132 and 3,18,274, respectively, with corresponding average daily ridership of 10,069 and 13,838, showing no marked improvement over a period of one year.