The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has imposed a 25 km/h speed restriction between Dhaula Kuan and Shivaji Stadium stations on the high-speed Airport Express Line after thieves cut 800 metres of signalling cable late Saturday night. Services on 11 January are operating normally elsewhere on the route but journeys to or from Indira Gandhi International Airport are taking 5-7 minutes longer. ([m.economictimes.com](https://m.economictimes.com/news/new-updates/delhi-airport-express-line-trains-running-at-a-slower-speed-between-these-stations-heres-why/articleshow/126465254.cms))
Security response: DMRC is coordinating with Delhi Police to investigate the theft and prevent similar incidents. Repairs will be carried out overnight to avoid a complete shutdown, but officials admit the line will run at reduced speed “for at least two days”. Regular station and in-train announcements are advising passengers to plan extra time.
Impact on travellers: The Airport Express is the preferred mode for corporate travellers seeking to bypass congestion on NH-48. Morning peak frequencies of 10 minutes have been maintained, yet the speed cap raises the end-to-end journey from 19 to roughly 26 minutes. Airlines have been informed so that minimum-connect-time calculations for through-checked passengers can be adjusted.
![Cable Theft Slows Delhi Airport Express Line, Adds Minutes to Terminal Transfers]()
For international visitors anxious about both metro delays and last-minute visa questions, VisaHQ can lighten the load. Through its India hub (https://www.visahq.com/india/), travellers can review up-to-date entry requirements, submit visa applications online, and receive status alerts—ensuring documentation is sorted even if the Airport Express is running a few minutes late.
Broader context: The incident highlights growing infrastructure-security challenges around key mobility corridors. In 2025, DMRC recorded 47 cable-theft attempts system-wide, prompting calls for fibre-optic sensors and CCTV analytics along viaducts. Industry associations say even small delays can ripple into missed flights, especially during winter fog season.
Advice: Travel-programme managers should alert employees transiting Delhi this week to allow a minimum 45-minute buffer between city departures and airport check-in times. Private-transfer providers may see higher demand during repair works; negotiators can leverage corporate-rate agreements to control costs.
Security response: DMRC is coordinating with Delhi Police to investigate the theft and prevent similar incidents. Repairs will be carried out overnight to avoid a complete shutdown, but officials admit the line will run at reduced speed “for at least two days”. Regular station and in-train announcements are advising passengers to plan extra time.
Impact on travellers: The Airport Express is the preferred mode for corporate travellers seeking to bypass congestion on NH-48. Morning peak frequencies of 10 minutes have been maintained, yet the speed cap raises the end-to-end journey from 19 to roughly 26 minutes. Airlines have been informed so that minimum-connect-time calculations for through-checked passengers can be adjusted.
For international visitors anxious about both metro delays and last-minute visa questions, VisaHQ can lighten the load. Through its India hub (https://www.visahq.com/india/), travellers can review up-to-date entry requirements, submit visa applications online, and receive status alerts—ensuring documentation is sorted even if the Airport Express is running a few minutes late.
Broader context: The incident highlights growing infrastructure-security challenges around key mobility corridors. In 2025, DMRC recorded 47 cable-theft attempts system-wide, prompting calls for fibre-optic sensors and CCTV analytics along viaducts. Industry associations say even small delays can ripple into missed flights, especially during winter fog season.
Advice: Travel-programme managers should alert employees transiting Delhi this week to allow a minimum 45-minute buffer between city departures and airport check-in times. Private-transfer providers may see higher demand during repair works; negotiators can leverage corporate-rate agreements to control costs.
