Express Link to meet deadline

Delhi Airport Metro Express Private Limited (DAMEPL),a special purpose vehicle created by Reliance Infrastructure and CAF,has managed to mobilise Rs 2,050 crore from 10 leading banks across the country. It will have to pay the money back within a period of 17 years,including the two years needed for the completion of the project.

The loan includes a $55 million grant by the India Infrastructure Finance Company (IIFC) of Japan. The banks involved include Axis Bank (lead bank),Allahabad Bank,Andhra Bank,Axis Trustee Services,Bank of India,Dena Bank,Central Bank,UCO Bank and Canara Bank,a DMRC official said.

“While civil work on the line will be carried out by the DMRC,rolling stock,signalling,telecom,automatic fare collection,track laying and other operations and maintenance will be taken care of by the Reliance consortium,” Anuj Dayal,DMRC spokesperson,said.

“The Express line has been leased out to the consortium for a period of 30 years,following which it will revert to the DMRC,” he said.

“The Concessionaire will be entitled to designing and constructing,or allowing the design and construction of shops,kiosks and the like within public areas of the New Delhi,Shivaji Stadium and Dhaula Kuan stations,” Dayal said.

Nearly 40 per cent work on the Express Link is complete and is slated to open for operations by October 2010. The 22.7-km-stretch will have five underground stations at the New Delhi Railway Station,Shivaji Terminus,NH-8,IGI Airport,Dwarka Sector 21,and an elevated station at Dhaula Kuan.

“This will be one of three lines that are being built using standard gauge and the alignment will go under the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station,” Dayal said.

A multi-level parking facility will come up at New Delhi station on an area of 9,000 sq m,and it will be integrated with the Metro station. A seven-floor parking will be developed and the first two floors are likely to be used as check-in areas for passenger facilitation and concourse.

On the cards
Wide and spacious lifts at all stations to accommodate passengers with bags and luggage.

The Dwarka Sector 21 station will be terminal station for Line 3 as well as the Express Link.

Trains will run at an average speed of 135 kmph.

It will take 18 minutes to reach IGI Airport from New Delhi station and 24 minutes to Dwarka Sector 21.

No of commuters expected: 42,500 everyday by 2011 and 86,000 by 2021.

Parking will be available at the Shivaji Stadium and New Delhi stations.

Baggage check-in facility at New Delhi Railway Station and Shivaji Stadium stations.