DMRC got nod from EGoM for project ignoring PIB objections
The Centre all along knew that the Airport Metro Express line project was not feasible, if the objections raised by Public Investment Board (PIB) against the PPP project are taken into account.
The Urban Development Ministry and the Finance Ministry had earlier objected to the `3,811-crore project. In 2006, Public Investment Board (PIB) of the Finance Ministry had termed the projected ridership figures of 42,500 passengers daily as highly exaggerated. It may be noted that the lack of ridership was one of the main reasons for Reliance Infra to pull out of the project.
The PIB had even questioned the need for a special Metro line given the fact that the airport was not far away from the existing Metro lines. It had suggested connectivity to the airport through an alternative route on the normal Metro system.
“Airport connectivity by Metro rail system is very much required but should be through alternative routes on normal Metro system so as to provide multiple set of linkages to the airport,” the PIB note said.
The PIB note was prepared by then director (UT) SK lohiya. The Finance Ministry had also suggested a PPP-BOT mode for the project. But the DMRC got the project approved directly by Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) without discussing the PIB note in order to complete the project before the 2010 Commonwealth Games. later the Finance Ministry withdrew the PIB note. It may be noted that it is mandatory for all infrastructure projects to get PIB approval.
The document available with The Pioneer reveals that the Finance Ministry had circulated the PIB note on October 23, 2006, seeking comments from different Ministries. It clearly mentioned in the note that the Ministry was opposed to the PPP project (cost of civil infrastructure being borne by the Government and the cost of systems including rolling stock being borne by the Concessionaire).
The PIB note had suggested the extension of Noida-Vaishali-Dwarka line to airport. “This is best achieved by extending corridor to Dwarka up to the airport by 4 km at a completion cost of `608 crore. A similar link can be considered between the airport and Qutub Minar which will get connected as part of the phase II of the project. These two linkages will provide a multiple set of Metro linkages to the airport and will facilitate passengers using this system to access airport from wider set of locations in Delhi,” it said.
It further stated that the ridership figures were highly optimistic and the projection of 42,500 passengers per day could be easily met by an alternative project at a much lower cost. The traffic projected by the DMRC was highly exaggerated as it had stated that 82 per cent of the total passengers were ready to use the proposed high-speed Metro link. However, it didn’t convince the Finance Ministry, which raised questions over the manner the surveys were carried out. These details were not available in the Detailed Project Report.
“Similarly, the claim that the maximum traffic between the airport and Connaught Place is unconvincing, given the overall lay out of the city. Further, the claim that 30 per cent of the passenger traffic and 35 per cent of the airport staff fall within the area of influence of the proposed Metro link is not convincing. Besides, the ridership projections are meagre at only 42,500 passengers per day,” it said. The maximum ridership achieved during the peak hour before closure of the Metro line was 20,000 per day whereas ridership at present is 10,000 per day. The Finance Ministry was of view that Airport Express Metro line should be taken up on PPP-Built-Operate-Transfer route if at all it was to be taken up. The PIB note had also objected to using standard gauge for it being higher in cost.
“Having a separate guage other than broad guage would require creation of separate infrastructure for maintenance and huge cost of inventory for different rolling stock,” it had said.
The airport Metro line was closed for 6-7 month due to default in the line. It would be pertinent to mention that after Reliance Infra promoted Delhi Airport Metro Express Private (DAMEPl) backed out of the 22.7-km line. It has become a white elephant for the Government as it will now have to pay `1,820 crore as termination payment. The operational loses on the line is also in the range of `5 crore a month.
DMRC is currently running operations with a team of 100 officials. This was the first project of the country commissioned on PPP mode and the line was sanctioned by the EGoM in two stages — from New Delhi Railway Station to IGI airport (19.2 km) and further to Dwarka Sector 21 (3.5 km) in April 2007 and January 2008 respectively.