Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is set to become India’s sole airport capable of handling 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA). Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the airport, announced on Monday that once the ongoing expansion work is complete, the passenger handling capacity will increase to 100 MPPA and the airside capacity will increase to 140 MPPA.

Phase 3A of the Delhi airport development project includes the integration of departure Terminal T1D and arrival Terminal T1C into a single, fully-integrated Terminal 1. The refurbishment and expansion work will increase Terminal 1’s area to 169,000 sq/m and establish departures and arrivals under one roof. The international transfer area of Terminal 3 will also be expanded, and a 7th check-in island and two arrival carousels will be added in T3.

The expansion plan also involves the demolition of the entire Terminal 1 apron area and the construction of a new and expanded apron with 82 stands. The new Terminal 1 apron will be equipped with the latest technological upgrades, including a visual docking guidance system, fuel hydrant system, ground power units, and pre-conditioned air. A flyover will also be constructed at the Aerocity Metro station junction to reduce travel time from Terminal 1 to Terminal 3.

The DIAL is also constructing a 4.4-kilometre-long fourth runway, parallel to runway 11/29 on the southern side, as part of Phase 3A work. The fourth runway will handle increased traffic movement and help reduce carbon emissions, making Delhi the first airport in India to have four operational runways.

The DIAL is also constructing a 2.1 km-long dual elevated Eastern Cross Taxiways (ECT) to reduce aircraft taxiing distance by 7 km. Once the ECT is commissioned, it will help airlines save approximately 350 kg of fuel every time an aircraft uses the taxiing route from runway 29/11 to Terminal 1 and vice-versa. It will also help decongest the airport and reduce approximately 55,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

The engineering and construction conglomerate Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has been entrusted with the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) work for Phase 3A. Delhi’s IGI Airport is currently the busiest airport in India, with over 950 flights departing each day. It comprises three terminals with over 80 airlines operating out of them, and in 2022, it handled approximately 59.5 million passengers, earning it the ninth position on the global ranking of busiest airports.