Sharp cut in Delhi Airport Express Line fares

In a move to increase passengers on the 22-km line, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has decided to reduce fares on the Airport Express by up to 40 per cent with effect from July 24. There is a sharper cut in the upper band of the ticket price.

As per the revised fare structure, the minimum single journey fare will cost ₹20, down 33 per cent from the earlier ₹30. Also, the maximum fare will be ₹100, down 44 per cent against ₹180 earlier.

However, the Airport Express Line fares are still higher than regular Delhi Metro fares at between ₹8 and ₹40. A one-way journey from New Delhi Station to Dwarka Sector 21 on the Airport Express will now cost only ₹100, said a release.

The fare store value card offered to the commuters will have a discount of 10 per cent.

However, the rate of all existing cards and discount schemes such as for defence, students and the privileged will be discontinued, once the revised fares come into effect.

The move comes within days of Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu calling for a reduction of the fare hike. The 30 trips, 45 trips and 60 trips cards will continue to be available for customers, with reduction in these values. The revised fares for these cards will be available only after exhausting the existing loaded products or after current validity.

The daily average ridership increased to 13,133 in June this year, a rise of 3,064 commuters a day. Meanwhile, Delhi Metro, which had been seeking an increase in fare hike, may have to take another hit, as the power charges for commercial users have gone up.

On fare hike for Delhi Metro, for which multiple proposals are pending with the Government, Naidu had told reporters recently, “We are discussing the issue of fare hike internally. First, I have asked them to prepare a plan for internal resource mobilisation by commercial exploitation of spaces.”

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