The much needed capacity expansion of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is likely to start in the near future with Delhi International Airport limited (DIAl)-GMR finalising its Masterplan-2017. The masterplan will be implemented in three modular phases — phase 3A (2018-21), 3B (2021-25) and phase 4 (2026 onwards).
In this process, the departure Terminal, T1D and arrival Terminal, T1 C will be merged into one and expanded to accommodate 40 million passengers per annum.
The modification of apron to meet future aircraft demand equipped with modern facilities like, Bridge Mounted Equipment (BME), Visual Docking Guidance System (VDGS) and Aerobridge operation with 22 Aerobridges also included.
Prabhakara Rao, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), DIAl, said, “We have planned to increase the capacity of T1 and T3 and build a fourth runway in due course of time. “The capacity of T1 will be increased from 20 million to 40 million passengers and the capacity of T3 will be increased from 34 million to 45 million passengers, adding, “The expansion would enable us to handle the steep rise of the passenger inflow at the Airport,” said Rao.
“In view of the robust growth in passenger traffic and upcoming airport expansion works, DIAl has revamped and is re-commissioning T2. We have asked the airlines operating from T1 for part shifting of operations to T2 from October 2017”, the CEO said.
The expansion works will be carried out along with the normal operations at T1. “The certain areas of the terminal and city side will operate at a lower capacity of 16 million passengers per annum (MPPA),” Rao said.
“However, the overall capacity of the airport in view of T2 operationalisation will be maintained at around 70 MPPA,” adding, “Besides, a fourth runway will be built parallel to Runway 11/29. The fourth runway will be constructed by 2021 and this will ease out future pressure on other runways and will be constructed parallel to runway 11/29.”
Delhi airport handled 57.7 million passengers and over 8,57,000 tonnes of cargo in financial year 2016-17.