Delhi:
Delhi's showcase Airport Express Metro Line will miss its September 30 deadline as the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety(CMRS) is yet to give his mandatory clearance for the corridor where speed trials have not been conducted so far.
The 22-km high-speed corridor that will connect the city's shopping hub of Connaught Place with the Indira Gandhi International Airport was scheduled to be opened to the public by tomorrow, three days ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The consortium led by Reliance Infrastructure, which is the concessionaire responsible for the corridor, is yet to conduct speed trials which are necessary for the clearance.
Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety R K Kardam has been inspecting the line since Monday and he has asked the DMRC for some clarifications this evening regarding certain deficiencies observed in this line.
DMRC sources said they have forwarded those to the consortium for implementing the same.
As the trains on the line will run at a speed of 120 km per hour, Kardam has been insisting on the conduct of speed trials on the line. But the trial also could not be conducted on this line so far by the concessionaire.
"DMRC has asked the concessionaire to urgently comply with the requirements of CMRS," the sources said.
When contacted, a Delhi Airport Metro Express Line Limited spokesperson said: "Decision on launch would be taken after receiving all necessary approvals and would be informed shortly."
The developments have led to uncertainty over the opening of the line. The Line can be opened only when the deficiencies are sorted out and the CMRS gives the green signal.
This is the first Metro line in the country to be implemented on Public Private Partnership basis with DMRC having completed the civil work with the remaining works to be done by the concessionaire.
The line promises to take passengers from Connaught Place to airport in just 18 minutes with stoppages at four stations.
The 22-km high-speed corridor that will connect the city's shopping hub of Connaught Place with the Indira Gandhi International Airport was scheduled to be opened to the public by tomorrow, three days ahead of the Commonwealth Games.
The consortium led by Reliance Infrastructure, which is the concessionaire responsible for the corridor, is yet to conduct speed trials which are necessary for the clearance.
Commissioner for Metro Rail Safety R K Kardam has been inspecting the line since Monday and he has asked the DMRC for some clarifications this evening regarding certain deficiencies observed in this line.
DMRC sources said they have forwarded those to the consortium for implementing the same.
As the trains on the line will run at a speed of 120 km per hour, Kardam has been insisting on the conduct of speed trials on the line. But the trial also could not be conducted on this line so far by the concessionaire.
"DMRC has asked the concessionaire to urgently comply with the requirements of CMRS," the sources said.
When contacted, a Delhi Airport Metro Express Line Limited spokesperson said: "Decision on launch would be taken after receiving all necessary approvals and would be informed shortly."
The developments have led to uncertainty over the opening of the line. The Line can be opened only when the deficiencies are sorted out and the CMRS gives the green signal.
This is the first Metro line in the country to be implemented on Public Private Partnership basis with DMRC having completed the civil work with the remaining works to be done by the concessionaire.
The line promises to take passengers from Connaught Place to airport in just 18 minutes with stoppages at four stations.
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