Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the upgraded terminal of Indira Gandhi International Airport (Delhi) virtually on 10th March, along with unveiling 12 other airports and laying the foundation stones for 4 new airports across India. “Today, projects worth about Rs 34,000 crore have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid in many states from Azamgarh. Along with Azamgarh, new terminal buildings have been inaugurated at many airports including Shravasti, Moradabad, Chitrakoot, Aligarh, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Lucknow, Pune, Kolhapur, Delhi and Adampur… All these efforts will make air travel more comfortable and accessible for the common man of the country,” said the Prime Minister. The inauguration was attended by Delhi L-G VK Saxena and Minister of State for Civil Aviation General VK Singh.
According to statements made by CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, the Delhi airport is on track to handle over 72 million passengers by the end of the current fiscal year, marking the highest-ever annual traffic volume. The expanded terminal, which has seen its capacity increase from 17 million to 40 million passengers, representing a significant enhancement for the airport. Notably, the total area of Terminal 1 has now tripled to a sprawling 2,06,950 square meters, providing ample space and improved facilities for passengers.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), stands as a key aviation hub in the national capital region. With the recent expansion of Terminal 1, IGIA now boasts an impressive annual passenger handling capacity of 100 million across its three terminals: T1, T2, and T3. This enhanced capacity underscores the airport’s commitment to accommodating the growing demands of air travel and facilitating seamless journeys for millions of passengers every year.
The expanded Terminal 1 is expected to be operational come May, as currently, the processes related to Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer are under way
The expanded T1 will feature eight entry gates equipped with Digi Yatra’s facial recognition system. Other amenities include 20 automated tray retrieval systems, 100 check-in counters including 36 self-baggage drop kiosks, and 10 baggage reclaim carousels which will be able to handle 6,000 units of baggage per hour, up from the earlier capacity of 2,340 units.
The terminal will also have 24 entry points with realigned pick-up and drop-off lanes to ease vehicular traffic. Once inside the terminal, passengers will be able to experience and utilize shopping and dining facilities, a prayer room, a yoga area, a quiet zone, lounges, charging stations, a self-medication room, baby care rooms, smart washrooms and more, said DIAL, adding that the terminal will be well connected with the Delhi Metro.
