New Delhi: A morning commute on Delhi Metro’s high-speed Airport Express Line turned tense on Monday after an attempted theft of signalling cables disrupted
operations on a key stretch of the corridor. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said train services had to be regulated after miscreants damaged nearly 800 metres of signalling cables between Dhaula Kuan Metro Station and Shivaji Stadium station, forcing trains to slow down.
What Happened: 800 Metres of Signalling Cables Damaged
According to DMRC, the disruption was triggered due to theft and damage to approximately 800 metres of signalling cables in the mid-section between Dhaula Kuan and Shivaji Stadium.
Although the cables were cut during the attempted theft, the suspects could not take away the cable pieces. During inspection, DMRC teams found the cut cable portions lying near Metro Pillar Number-09.
INCIDENT REPORT
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) January 11, 2026
New Delhi, dt: 11.01.2026
Train services on the Airport Express Line from Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector-25 to New Delhi are being regulated since this morning due to theft and damage to approximately 800 metres of Signalling cables caused by miscreants in the… pic.twitter.com/Lt21euDMDf
This damage affected the signalling system — the backbone that ensures trains run safely at speed. With signalling hit, trains were operated under restrictions in the affected stretch.
DMRC said trains were running at a restricted speed of 25 kmph between:
- Dhaula Kuan
- Shivaji Stadium
(on the Up Line towards New Delhi)
However, DMRC clarified that normal services remained available on the rest of the Airport Express Line, even while this section faced speed regulation.
Why Repairs Couldn’t Be Done Immediately
The Airport Express is one of Delhi Metro’s most frequent corridors, with trains typically running every 10 minutes.DMRC said replacing signalling cables during daytime revenue hours would have severely disrupted passenger movement. To avoid large-scale delays, the corporation planned restoration work to be carried out at night after the end of revenue service.
Meanwhile, preparatory and planning work was already underway during the day to ensure the night-time restoration was completed smoothly.
To keep commuters updated, DMRC said it made regular announcements at stations and inside trains on the Airport Express Line.
Passengers were advised to plan journeys accordingly, as travel time could be slightly longer, particularly for those travelling towards New Delhi on theaffected stretch.
Are Services Running Normally Now?
Yes. DMRC, in an update, confirmed, “Normal services have resumed on the Airport Express Line.”Airport Express Line Update
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) January 12, 2026
Normal services have resumed.
DMRC also expressed regret for the inconvenience and said it is in touch with the law-and-order machinery to tackle such recurring cable theft incidents, which repeatedly affect infrastructure and passenger safety.
