Sonia lays foundation stone for Delhi airport's new terminal

New Delhi, Feb 17 (UNI) UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today laid the foundation stone for a new integrated terminal building and runway at Delhi airport which promises to rank among the world's best in coming years.

Ms Gandhi, accompanied by civil aviation minister Praful Patel, also inaugurated an aviation exhibition after the ceremony held along national capital's border with Haryana.

Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport -- the second busiest in India -- will have 130 check-in counters, 74 aerobridges, automated passenger movers, restaurants, shopping joints and a high-speed train connection to the city.

Phase one of the master plan includes construction of a new passenger terminal (Terminal 3) which will cater to both domestic and international passengers. It will be ready before the Commonwealth Games in 2010.

Overlooking opposition by Left parties, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is revamping the airport international standards capable of keeping pace with a booming economy.

It is also developing greenfield airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore besides modernising Kolkata and Chennai airports. Also, 35 airports in non-metro cities are being upgraded to promote regional connectivity.

Currently, congested waiting areas, lack of comfortable seating, slow baggage handling and unreliable power supplies make air travel uncomfortable for a fast expanding middle-class despite the introduction of many new budget airlines.

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