Case Study : Delhi Metro

Airport Express Line

Bhaskar Bhattacharya
 Delhi Metro
Airport Express Line

Phases

Background : Delhi Metro & DMRC

Project Details : Airport Express Metro Line

Options before DMRC

Suggested ‘Way Ahead’

 Background
Reason
Delhi Metro & DMRC

Conditions that necessitated setting up of DMRC….

 Population of over 10 million

 More registered vehicles than Mumbai, Kolkata
& Chennai put together
 Automobiles contributing to more than 2/3rd of
the total atmospheric pollution
 High rate of road accidents
 More than 35 studies recommended ‘Mass
Rapid Transit System’
 Background
Delhi Metro & DMRC
DMRC becomes a necessity……

 Need for reliable public transportation in Delhi

 Comprehensive traffic & transportation study
completed in 1990 highlighted the urgent need
for a rail-based transit system comprising a
network of underground elevated and surface
corridors to meet the traffic demand projected
for 2021
 Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited (DMRC)
registered on 3rd May 1995 for the Construction
& Operation
 Background
Delhi Metro & DMRC

Cost Structure for projects by DMRC……

 20% of the cost borne by the Central Government

 20% of the cost borne by the GNCTD
 About 50 – 60% of the cost through JBIC Loan
 5% of the cost by DMRC through Property
Development
 Background
Challenges
Delhi Metro & DMRC
Challenges successfully negotiated by DMRC….

 Biggest urban invention in transportation since

independence
 Executed in very difficult urban environment
 All actions under close scrutiny of all agencies
 Implementation period compressed from 10 years
to 7 years
 Constructed to world class standards with
frontline technologies
 Expertise and technology was not available in the
country
 Background
Delhi Metro & DMRC

Objectives achieved by DMRC in NCR till Aug

2006 i.e. the date setting of this case study …..

A rapid transit system serving NCR

 Network consists of six lines with a total length of 62

Kms ( eventually extended to 183.7 Kms)

 40 stations ( eventually extended to 140) of which 35

are underground
 Background
Delhi Metro & DMRC
Jahangirpuri
2002 Rohini

Mansarovar Park
Udyog Nagar

2010 ISBT

Karol Bagh

Dwarka Mandi
House

2005
Botonical Garden
Noida

Tuglakabad
IFFCO Chowk
2010
2004
 Airport Express Line

Rly Stn

Shivaji
Stadium

Aerocity

Dwarka IGI
Sect 21 Airport
 Airport Express Line
Length 19.2 Km
- 5.5 km underground
- 11.6 km of elevated tracks
- Balance- switchover ramps

Cost: 2381 Cr less taxes & duties

: addl reqmt of 559 Cr for Rolling Stock
 Generaion of Necessity
Airport Express Line

 IGAI was envisaged to handle 18 million passengers by

2010-11 & 70 million by 2034-35

Movement primarily through taxis & private vehicles.

Bus services were few & inadequate

Travel time from center of Delhi to IGAI approx 1 Hr

CWG was likely to bring in a large number of tourists &

sports participants
 Terms of Reference
Airport Express line
 September 2010 deadline for CWG

Direct Route to IGAI , ride with most people sitting with space for
luggage

Max speed of 135 kms/hr with operating speeds of 100 Kms/hr

Four stn reqd: Two stns close to City Centre, One stn
Intermediate & One stn at airport terminal

Provision for interchanges with DMRC lines & other public

transport systems

Provision for future stations

Decision between DMRC & PPP/BOT

 Stakeholders
Airport Express line

GoI- Empowered Gp of Min, Committee of Secretaries

GNCTD (Govt of National Capital Territory of Delhi)

DMRC

DIAL(Delhi International Airport Limited)

Private Finance/ Banks

Agencies/Departments according various clearances

Residents of Delhi
 Project Details
Airport Express Line
 Project Length 19.2 Km with a hybrid mix:
- l5.5 Km of underground tracks
- 11.6 Km of elevated tracks
- Remaining would be for switch-over ramps

Expected traffic 86,000 by 2021

Turn-around time of 55-60 min

Express line would terminate at the Airport

Each station would have a circulating area of 10,000-20,000

SqM of which 50% could be used for commercial purposes

Cost of Proj- 2381Cr (less the taxes & duties)

 Concerns
Airport Express Line
Alignment of the line at places like cantonment areas where
permission would be mandatory for elevated corridors

Alignment crossed major city roads affecting utilities like

sewers, water mains, storm water drains, telephone & electricity
lines. These were not to be disrupted during the construction
phase

Felling of 300-400 trees

Permission from different regulators & utility operators

DIAL had reservations on elevated station on Airport

Security of the line

Ambitious time frame of four years

 Options
DMRC vs PPP
Funding
DMRC
 Funding from the GoI for a
facility to be primarily used
by air passengers may not
be forthcoming
DMRC had to secure entire
funding
DIAL to bear expenses for
civil works inside airport to
the tune of 440 Cr
DDA would be required to
pitch in for better
connectivity to Dwarka
PPP/BOT
Responsibility of the
project with private investor
 Heavy capital investment
& long gestation periods
BOT projects involved 1/3rd
equity & 2/3rd debt @ 10%
Private funding may have
to be extended through VGF
(viability gap funding)
 Options
DMRC vs PPP
Permissions & Clearances
DMRC PPP/BOT

 DMRC/GNCTD to be
responsible for land
acquisitions, securing
permission from different
agencies for both
construction & operations
 Form 1
Private investor to be
responsible for land
acquisition & all clearances
 Form 2
Land Acquisition &
clearances facilitated by
DMRC/GNCTD
 Options
DMRC vs PPP
DMRC Execution & Operation
 DMRC has domain expertise,
momentum from past & running
projects & trained manpower
Good offices with GoI, GNCTD &
agencies according
permissions/clearances
Vital engineering equipment like
heavy duty cranes & plant
equipment already available on site
Rolling stock from previously
completed projects
Knowledge of existing facilities
like electricity & sewer lines, water
supply lines
 Tried & tested team with
excellent reasults
PPP/BOT
 Very few private companies with
this kind of an expertise
May have to poach experts from
DMRC itself for critical functions
May have to further subcontract
indl segments
Procurement of heavy
engineering eqpt may delay
commencement of the project
Lack of trained manpower
No knowledge of layout of
amenities
Good offices have to be
established through liaison with all
agencies
 Suggested Road Ahead
Airport Express Line
 A lot is at stake on the project (National image)

Contract procedure followed by subcontracting, is a time consuming

process

Critical amenities cannot be disturbed for a prolonged period

Environmental, Forest & other clearances have to be fast-tracked

Procurement of Engineering Eqpt & construction stores at a very rapid

pace has its challenges

Quality control on the project when time lines are critical

 Availability of Trained Manpower at all levels

Good leadership

Good Offices with various agencies

 Suggested Road Ahead
Airport Express Line

 DMRC is best suited to undertake the project

 Involving any other agency without domain expertise

may prove disastrous with such critical timelines

If funding is an issue with GoI & PPP/BOT becomes the

only option, then supervision & reporting on a daily basis
may have to be done by DMRC

 Instructions from GOI to all agencies to issue

clearances on a war footing
Thank You