Title - Delhi Airport Metro repairs to take longer

NEW DELHI: The wait for the Airport Metro Express just got longer. The internal deadline for repairing the line, which was shut down by the concessionaire on July 8, has been reset to mid-September, said sources. Earlier, the urban development ministry had said the repair would be completed by August-end.The reason for the rescheduling is the need for more rectification, said sources, along with the slow pace of work by Delhi Metro. "Delhi Metro is still examining the defects. As it's a time-consuming task — the inspection can only be done by climbing the girders and closely examining the bearings — the internal deadline has been rejigged," said a senior government official who is part of the committee on the airport Metro. Officials say workers are being put on the job even as the required machinery is being procured.Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has now decided to inspect all the 2,000-odd bearings used in the elevated section of the 22.7km line."The joint inspection committee had found that 90% of the 540 bearings that had been inspected were defective. Based on that, DMRC has been asked to check all the bearings on the corridor. More than 80% of the bearings are expected to be compromised," an official said.Sources said that with over 1,500 bearings requiring being attended to, the work schedule had to be extended as well. "There is little likelihood of the rectification work being completed before September 20," said a source.

The urban development ministry is still awaiting the report on the examination of the girders, said officials. "Systra has been asked to examine the girders," said the official, adding that prima facie, their defects don't seem to be serious. "However, an independent party, decided by both Delhi Metro and Reliance Infrastructure, will monitor the rectification work, so that both parties are satisfied," said the official.

Last month, the concessionaire R-Infra had shut down the Airport Metro Express, citing safety reasons. According to R-Infra, the defects in bearings and girders had forced the concessionaire to slow down the speed of the trains to an abysmal 15kmph at places, and put commuters at risk.

Delhi Metro had, however, denied that the safety of the corridor was being compromised by the defects.