Delhi's IGI Airport Set To Increase Flight Handling Capacity With Fourth Operational Runway And New Terminal Expansion

The Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi is set to have its new terminal and the fourth runway operational in September, according to a statement by Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal.

"September 2023 will be witness to Delhi airport getting a new terminal and the fourth runway becoming operational. The Indian aviation sector is growing rapidly and we are preparing for better infrastructure and better connectivity with a renewed focus on innovation," he said at the EU-India Aviation Summit.

Further to its operations, the other two runways — the main runway between Terminal-1 and Terminal-3, and the one closest to the Shiva statue — will be closed for repairs.

As per a Times of India report, “The fourth runway (11L/29R) is expected to start operations this September. The main runway (10/28) will then be shut for recarpeting and should start handling flights before the year-end, or early next year,” said an airport official with information about the plans.

“Around March next year, the runway closest to the Shiva statue side (11R/29L) will be closed for about two months for minor repairs. By next June-July, IGIA will have all four runways operational”.

Following these revamping and developments, the IGI airport will have all four runways within a year — to increase its flight handling capacity to well over 100 flights an hour while also making it the only Indian airport to have four functional runways.

As per airport officials, the fourth runway will be 4,400 m long and 75 m wide, slightly smaller than the third runway.

The new runway was included as part of Phase III-A of the expansion plan for Delhi airport.

Originally, the deadline for completion was set for the middle to end of 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the construction of the runway was impacted.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a joint venture majority-owned by the GMR Group, had in 2019 announced an investment of Rs 9,800 crore to upgrade the existing Terminal-1, build a fourth runway and for other development works to increase the airport's passenger handling capacity.

Additionally, earlier this month, the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport also joined the league of the world's ten busiest airports based on passenger traffic, as per Airports Council International (ACI).

In 2022, the airport handled approximately 5.95 crore passengers, earning it the ninth position on the global trade association's ranking.