New stations ready,Dwarka set to connect with IGI

The stations will be integrated and commissioned as soon as the AMEL opens for the public,DMRC officials said.

Travelling from the IGI Aiport to Dwarka or West Delhi would soon be a brief ride on the AMEL — costing a maximum of Rs 30. One can shift to the Delhi Metro network at the Dwarka Sector 21 station,which is just a stop away from the IGI Airport Metro station,and take Line 3 to reach the city.

“The Dwarka Sector 21 station is designed in a way that commuters will not even have to change platforms to board AMEL trains,” said DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal.

“This station will be unique as it will essentially be two stations merged into one. It will have four levels — the platforms will be underground,concourse at ground level and two more levels for commercial development. Each level will have an area of about 12,500 sq m,” he added.

Construction and finishing work on the Dwarka Sector 8 as well as Sector 21 lines are over,and trial runs have already been conducted. DMRC sources said statutory clearances from the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety would be obtained once the AMEL is complete.

The Dwarka Sector 21 station will,however,not have check-in facilities for airport-bound commuters,a DMRC official said.

AMEL and Line 3 will both terminate at Dwarka Sector 21. Each will have separate operational systems as the AMEL is standard gauge while Line 3 is broad gauge. While Line 3 trains would terminate at the station,trains to the airport will start on the other side of the same ‘island’ platform. Commuters exiting Line 3 will simply need to walk across the platform to board AMEL trains.

“As the Airport Line has a different fare structure,separate token counters and automatic fare collection gates will be installed on the island platform itself. A glass barrier will be installed in the middle of the island platform to separate the AMEL from Line 3. This will be the first Metro station to have AFC gates on the platforms,” Dayal said.

The area around the station is being developed as a transport hub with a train station,inter-state bus terminal and container depot being by various agencies.