Airlines to have separate terminals at Delhi's new airport

New Delhi, June 28: The process of modernising and upgrading Delhi's IGI airport to world-class standards is gathering pace.

By 2008 when the first phase is over, there will be a separate space for each airline. And by 2010 when the second phase closes, each carrier will have a separate terminal building like in most developed countries.

This means when you drive up to the airport, you'll have to tell the cabwallah which airline you are going to use so that he takes you to the right terminal.

The government is keen to complete revamping of the IGI airport by March 2010, well before the Commonwealth Games.

At present, congested waiting areas, lack of comfortable seating, slow baggage handling and unreliable power supplies rank Delhi airport as one of the worst by several international standards.

The Bangalore-based GMR group is the leading group of companies which are modernising the national capital's airport.

Officials say existing structures at domestic and international terminals will be pulled down and replaced with new modular-designed buildings.

Civil aviation minister Praful Patel was given a presentation by GMR officials yesterday on the progress made so far. He reportedly told them to make speedy and visible improvements. Company officials say the masterplan for new airport will be complete by September and construction will start by January 2007. The current passenger traffic is 16.2 million per year which is expected to grow at 15 per cent over the next five years.

After the first phase of project is over, the airport will have one integrated terminal catering to about 30 to 35 million passengers.

The new runways with wide shoulders will be able to accommodate double-decker superjumbos like the Airbus A380 which can seat 800 passengers and long-range aircraft Boeing 777s which can fly non-stop from and to anywhere in the world.

The GMR has set some early success targets that will be finished within four months from now. This includes facelift of terminal 1B (domestic), toilet renovation, improving housekeeping standards and seating arrangements.

Officials at the civil aviation ministry said the restructuring and modernisation of Delhi airport will add to economic growth tremendously and will have a wider implication on the aviation sector in general.

The GMR-Fraport consortium holds 74 per cent equity in the newly-formed joint venture company, the remaining 26 per cent being with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and other government institutions.

Assets of Delhi airport have been transferred to the GMR combine and leased for 30 years after which the lease will be renewed for another 30 years. The government will continue to manage security as well as air traffic control.

UNI