Government aims to make India the leading aviation hub worldwide.

Videh Kumar Jaipuriar CEO, Delhi International Airports Ltd

How do you assess the current scenario of Indian airports sector?

The Indian aviation industry, as part of the world's fastest-growing economy, is poised to reap the benefits of India's robust trade and commerce sectors. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted that by 2024, India will become the world's third-largest market for aviation with The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimating the output of Indian aviation industry to grow by 3.25 times during this period. With significant growth anticipated in civil aviation aided by rising income levels and enhanced connectivity, the Indian government recognizes the immense potential that air travel beholds and aims to make India the leading aviation hub worldwide per its  Vision 2040.  

To cater to the growing demand, Government has taken various initiatives including development of greenfield airports and expansion of brownfield airports. GMR Airports continues to invest in greenfield airports including the recently operationalized Manohar International Airport in Mopa, Goa and is also developing the Bhogapuram airport in Andhra Pradesh. Further, GMR airports is already expanding its airports in Delhi (IGIA) and Hyderabad (RGIA) to cater to approx. 100 million and 34 million passengers respectively over next one and a half year. At Delhi alone, we are adding a new terminal with overall capacity of 40 million passengers, almost double the passenger handling capacity of existing T1 along with the fourth runway and an Elevated Eastern Cross Taxiway to enhance operational efficiencies and provide superior passenger experience. These developments shall put IGIA, the busiest airport in India to be amongst the largest and busiest airports worldwide along with being the key hub in APAC region.  

To support this positive and transformative growth, a significant increase in employment opportunities continues to happen, with ICAO predicting a 6.1-fold rise in employment within the Indian aviation sector. Through a concerted and continued effort from the government involving airport operators like DIAL, Indian airlines and related organizations, various segments of the Indian aviation industry are being planned and developed carefully, ensuring a bright future. We are committed to working together and creating synergies for India to secure its position as the key player in the global aviation landscape.

What are the major developments happening? How are the airport infrastructure and operations enhanced at Delhi airport?  

The following expansion and modernisation activities have taken place at Delhi airport.

Terminal 1 and Apron

• Terminal capacity enhanced from 20 MPPA to 40 MPPA.
• Total area (Departure + Arrival) increased from 64,140 sqm to 1,92,985 sqm.
• Check-in islands capacity increased from 4 to 5 Nos.
• Self-Baggage Drop (SBD) increased from 0 to 36 Nos.
• Common user self service machines increased from 12 to 108 nos.
• Baggage make up carousels increased from 4 (airline-wise) to 9 Nos. (flight-wise, individual carrier system).
• Passenger boarding bridges increased from 0 to 22 contact stands.
• Baggage reclaim carousels increased from 8 Nos. of 52 m each to 10 Nos. of 70 m each.
• Apron area increased from 2,82,000 sqm to 6,29,285 sqm.
• Parking stands increased from 55 remote stands to 82 stands (60 remote including 8 MARS stands and 22 contact).  

Airside

• Runways increased from 3 to 4 Nos.
• Length of taxiways incl. connection to runway 10/28 increased from 44,000 m to 60,000 m.
• Eastern cross taxiways first time introduced in India consists of dual elevated cross taxiways
• Fire stations increased from 4 to 5 Nos.
• Rehabilitation of 09/27 runway was completed.

Landside

• Departure forecourt increased from 6 (3 + 3) lanes to 9 (3 + 3 + 3) lanes.
• Arrival forecourt increased from 8 (3 + 3 + 2) lanes to 11 (3 + 3 + 3 + 2) lanes.
• Central spine road widening increased from 4+4 lanes to 6+6 lanes.
• Fly overs increased from 0 to 2 Nos.

 Terminal 3

• International transfer area increased from 1,575 sqm to 2,945 sqm.
• Baggage reclaim carousels increased from 12 to 14 No.
• Baggage make up carousels increased from 12 to 13 Nos.

What are the major design innovations happening at your airport project?

IT Works - Self baggage drop (SBD) introduced. This reduces processing time and enhances capacity.

Airport systems

• For baggage handling, individual carrier systems (ICS) being implemented which is first time in India.
• Make in India aerobridges with more safety features.
• All remote stands equipped with VDGS.
• Introduction of inline CT machine for hold baggage system at IGIA Terminal 1.
• Introduction of stacker for smooth tray management in ATRS.

Civil works - including innovative construction methodologies:

• Virtual Reality technology used for architectural views and interior designs as well as airside safety trainings
• Lidar survey used for scanning, analyzing the existing terminal including utilities, converted to BIM/REVIT and used for merging with new structure. Demolition of structure beyond K grid and stitching the new structure to the K grid is classic example of this feature.
• RC CAD for RCC detailing and Tekla for structural steel detailing used
• GPS survey used for locating existing underground utilities
• Strand jack method used for erection of structural frames in node
• Suspended platform of size 475 m x 35 m erected to facilitate parallel working in terminal building

What are the latest technologies and solutions provided at Delhi airport to make the operations more efficient and sustainable?  

Latest technology has been utilized at the Delhi airport for best in industry solutions enhancing the passenger experience. Self-bag drop provides seamless check-in experience for frequent flyers which reduces the queueing time. Integrated cart-based BHS system is the latest technology for baggage transportation with enhanced accuracy. ICS systems eliminates miss-sortation while processing the baggage. CT scanners at security checks are being planned to ensure passengers need not remove electronic gadgets from their hand baggage. Full body scanners are also at the planning stage, to facilitate passenger's screening without any physical contact whereby reducing time while ensuring threat detection.

How does safety play a major role at Delhi airport? What are the key safety features at the airport?

The objective of DIAL Health & Safety Management System is to create a safe and healthy environment for all stakeholders, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations and facilitating continual improvement in health and safety performance. It involves a structured and systematic approach to identifying and managing risks to the health and safety of employees, passengers, and other stakeholders at IGI Airport.

The overall objectives of DIAL Health & Safety Management System involves: prevention of accidents and injuries, compliance with regulations, stakeholder engagement, emergency preparedness and continual improvement.

What is your outlook on airports sector? What are your expansion plans?

IGIA Master Plan 2016 has forecasted the passenger traffic demand at IGI Airport as 109 million by FY2034. To meet the growing traffic demand, the Master Plan has recommended short-term, medium-term and long-term development plans for expansion of IGI Airport in phased manner. The current phase (Phase 3A) expansion works are at final stage of completion. As on 30 June 2023, about 91.6% of physical progress has been achieved. Major works of Phase 3A such as fourth runway, ECT, strengthening of runway 09/27 with rapid exit taxiways, construction of parallel taxiways to runways 09/27 and runway 10/28 with taxiway connections, T1 apron civil works etc. are completed and also commissioned Terminal 1 Arrival Part A in February 2022. Landside works that include two flyovers; one at Aerocity signal and other at norther access road are at fag end of completion and widening of central spine from 8-lanes to 12-lanes is almost complete. Upon completion of these two flyovers, one can experience seamless traffic flow on central spine road and on northern access road. The expanded T1 will have 22 contact stands, 13 bus gates and 60 remote stands which would handle 40 million passengers per annum.

In FY19, the passenger traffic at IGIA was around 69 million. Due to Covid-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine war, there is a huge fall in passenger traffic at IGIA. The traffic slowly started picking from FY22 and reached to 65 million in FY23. The domestic traffic has recovered to pre-Covid levels where as the international traffic yet to recover to pre-Covid levels. By FY24, the total passenger traffic at IGIA is expected to reach 70 million.

With the completion of phase 3A works, IGIA would be able to handle 100 million traffic with three operating terminals (T1, T3 and T2). The Master Plan has recommended for development of Pier E with domestic infill to the Terminal 3, for enhancing the domestic capacity at T3 by 10 million. Development of Pier E would facilitate enhancement of T3 international capacity to meet the forecasted international traffic demand. The development of Pier E and its infill would be taken up for execution as and when the traffic demand triggers. Ultimately, IGIA would be able to handle 140 million with the development of T4 as part of long-term development phase of IGIA Master Plan.

Hits: 33