The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the operator of Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI Airport), announced that the arrival terminal at T1 has been expanded and is now operational. According to a PTI report, the work was carried out as part of expansion plans, and once the entire extension work is completed, the airport’s overall terminal capacity and airside capacity will expand to 100 million and 140 million, respectively. IGI Airport currently has a terminal capacity of 60 million passengers and a capacity of 100 million passengers on the airside. T1, T2, and T3 are the three active terminals of Delhi Airport.
According to I Prabhakara Rao, GMR Group’s Deputy Managing Director, the current domestic arrival operations would be transferred to the newly constructed arrival terminal, allowing the airport operator to demolish the existing arrival terminal. He said that the structure was urgently needed and would enhance the airport’s operational efficiency. IndiGo and SpiceJet operate domestic flights from Terminal 1 at the moment. When completed, the rebuilt Terminal 1 will contain integrated arrival and departure terminals, a pier structure with 22 contact stands, and a new node building with retail and food and beverage outlets.
“On the city side, the pickup lanes outside the Arrival terminal have been realigned and expanded to three additional lanes, taking the total number of lanes to 11. This will ease traffic congestion and significantly improve passenger experience and convenience during pickup,” he added.
According to the PTI report, T1’s new arrival terminal will include a large area between baggage belts for easy movement and a state-of-the-art meet and greet gallery and other amenities. The new arrival terminal consists of an 8,000 square metre arrival hall with four new baggage reclaim carousels.
The terminal is expected to provide passengers with a unique experience. DIAL said that the Phase 3A expansion projects would assist IGI airport become future-ready, with the terminal capacity of Delhi Airport increasing to 100 MPPA and airside capacity increasing to 140 MPPA.
More developments are underway at IGI airport
DIAL will further develop the IGI airport’s fourth runway, dual elevated Eastern Cross taxiways to link the northern and southern airfields, landside developments for connectivity and circulation improvements, and T3 modification works, among other things, as part of the overall development plan under Phase 3A.
