The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) plans to speed up the country's fastest urban transportation system, the Airport Express.

The distance between New Delhi Railway Station and Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport could be covered in less than 15 minutes by the end of the following year. Currently, it takes 20 minutes to travel 19.4 kilometres.

The Airport Express Line trains only travel at a top speed of 80 kmph, even though the current sanctioned rate is 90 kmph.

Instrumentation, monitoring, and certain modifications are being considered to increase the speed to 120kmph, According to Anuj Dayal, the main executive director for corporate communications at DMRC.

The DMRC intends to increase train speeds gradually over the next six months, which should result in faster operation of the Airport Express Line.

As part of DMRC's six-month strategy, the SKL 15HF clamps will be replaced by the SKL 15 tension clamps, which are better suited for high-frequency train movement.

After three weeks of replacement of the tension clamps, units to continuously monitor the track would be put at various locations for six months.

Followed by the repair of the tension clamps, the train's speed would be raised to 100 kmph after a month. After a month, the speed will be increased to 110kmph. The train's speed would be boosted to 120kmph in the last phase.

Anuj Dayal stated that verification measurements would be done in a few portions three months after the 120 kph runs. The metro body will collaborate with an organisation to constantly track the tremors, followed by verification measurements, reports the Times of India.

Although the trains and systems in the corridor are intended to operate at 135 kmph, this is not the actual speed at which they travel.

However, passenger trains won't be allowed to go faster until after the monitoring procedures and subsequent approval by the Commissioner of Metro Railway Safety.