Delhi Airport all set to get the country’s first-ever air train for easy travel between terminals
By the end of 2027, Delhi Airport plans to introduce an Automated People Mover (APM) to ease travel between Terminals 1 and 3.
Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport is set to revolutionise passenger experience with the introduction of India’s first air train system. This ambitious project aims to provide seamless connectivity between the airport’s terminals, parking lots, and other facilities, significantly enhancing passenger convenience and reducing travel time.
According to the information, by the end of 2027, travelling between Terminal 3 (T3) and Terminal 1 (T1) at Delhi Airport will be significantly easier. Thanks to an upcoming air train or the Automated People Mover (APM).
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has issued a tender for building this much-anticipated project, which will include four stops: T2/3, T1, Aerocity, and Cargo City. This project will be covering a 7.7 km route, and will eliminate the need for reliance on Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses for terminal transfers.
To provide more clarity on this matter, sources also said that GMR-backed DIAL will start accepting bids for the project in October-November 2024. The winning bid will need to have all elements like cost-effectiveness, with bidders proposing revenue-sharing models or seeking viability gap funding. And after things get finalised covering all the aspects, the contract will be awarded before the end of the fiscal year. Sources are hopeful that the construction will likely be completed by the end of 2027, as the said timeline has also been communicated to the Union Aviation Ministry, to ensure that the project stays on track.
Not only this, this will also significantly contribute to reducing the carbon footprint, thereby helping Delhi Airport improve its Airport Service Quality (ASQ) score.
Delhi Airport currently handles over 70 million passengers annually, which will likely increase to more than 130 million over the next 6-8 years. A significant percentage of these passengers are expected to be transit flyers, which will make the air train essential for smooth terminal transfers.