The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has also sent a letter of intent to the consortium led by Reliance Energy Limited (REL) and Spanish railway manufacturing firm CAF to build and operate the entire stretch of 22.7 kilometres, connecting the airport to New Delhi railway station and Dwarka.

To be built along lines of the links at Heathrow (London) and Hong Kong, this Metro stretch is expected to be functional by July 2010. It will reduce travel time between IGI airport and Ajmeri Gate to a mere 15 minutes.

DMRC has proposed a flat Rs-100 ticket fare on this stretch to discourage joyriders.

“With the Dwarka link also being cleared, the airport will now be accessible to more people,” DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said. The ride between IGI airport and Dwarka Sector-21 will take four minutes, Dayal said.

The stretch will have six stations: New Delhi station, Shivaji Stadium, Dhaula Kuan, NH-8, IGI airport, and Dwarka.

An REL spokesperson said the consortium will form a special purpose vehicle to implement the project and would be responsible for installing all systems. These include rolling stock (trains), overhead electrification, track, automatic fare collection, baggage check-in and handling, depot and other facilities.

The company would also commission and operate the system for 30 years.