Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport, operated by Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd (DIAL), a joint venture company led by Bangalore headquartered global Infrastructure major GMR Group with a significant pan-India and International presence, Airports Authority of India, Fraport and Malaysian Airport Holdings will inaugurate the terminal 3 today.
DIAL is working towards the modernization and restructuring of the Delhi Airport. The project being developed by DIAL under Public Private Partnership has been given the mandate to finance, design, build, operate and maintain the Delhi Airport for 30 years with an option to extend it by another 30 years.
The development of IGI Airport is taking place under a phased Master Plan. As part of the first phase DIAL has already commissioned a new runway and domestic terminal at IGIA. The modern integrated passenger terminal (Terminal 3), is scheduled to be commissioned today by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Terminal 3 is a state-of-the-art complex featuring Common Use Terminal Equipment (CUTE) and an advanced 5 level in-line baggage handling system with explosive detection technology for greater efficiency and security. The check-in area features with more than 160 check-in counters. Passengers would greatly benefit as check-in and security clearances would be faster and less obtrusive. For international passengers more than 90 desks would facilitate immigration procedures. In addition, the terminal also features 76 aerobridges.
The two tier terminal building has the departure complex on the upper level and the arrivals on the lower level. The roof of the building has stylized incisions to allow daylight, but angled to protect the interior from direct sunlight. The effect creates a calm environment and maximizes the sense of volume, space and light inside. The use of natural light would reduce the dependency on artificial light during day-time.
The arrival hall features both standard and wide-body baggage reclaim belts. Passengers will emerge from bag reclaim into the Internal Landside Arrivals Concourse from where transit passengers would use elevators to proceed to the Departures level. 4 piers will provide access to the aircraft from the terminal.
The access to the new terminal is via a 6 lane approach road. The Airport would also be connected via dedicated high speed Metro line connecting to the city centre.
Even though the terminal is being commissioned today, passengers and airlines will be able to use the facility only from July 14, 2010. All International Flights departing from and arriving at Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport on 14 July, 2010 after 16:45 IST will operate from Terminal 3.
The first departures will be Indian Airlines (IC895, New Delhi - Dubai), Air India (AI638, New Delhi - Amritsar) and Sri Lankan Airlines (UL196, New Delhi - Colombo.
The first arrivals will be Air India (AI102, JFK New York - New Delhi), Air India (AI307, Tokyo Narita - New Delhi) and Jet Airways (9W72, Hong Kong - New Delhi). The shifting of domestic airlines to terminal 3 will take some time.
