look news india
New Delhi: Traveling from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2/3 of Delhi Airport has become a headache. Many times due to traffic jams, people are unable to reach their terminal on time and miss their flight. However, after a few years, going from T1 to T2 will become a matter of minutes. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has decided to build an Automated People Mover (APM) to ease the journey between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2/3. This air train will be 7.7 km long and will stop at T1, T2/3, Aerocity and Cargo City. It is expected that this project will be completed by the end of 2027.
DIAL issued tender
This will greatly benefit passengers traveling to and from Delhi Airport, especially those who want to go from one terminal to another. Till now one had to travel by DTC buses which took a lot of time. With the new Air Train, this journey will be completed in a few minutes. DIAL has issued a tender for this project and it is expected that bidding will start by October-November. The total cost of the project has not been estimated yet but sources say that it may be less than Rs 2,000 crore.
This train will have four stops
DIAL had earlier planned to make six stops for this air train, but the government rejected it. The government believed that having so many stops would increase the travel time between T1 and T2/3. DIAL's model of making so many stops, including two stops at Aerocity, would not only increase the travel time between T1 and T2/3, but would also require foolproof security at the non-terminal stops.
Can be arranged free of cost for passengers
Let us tell you that Delhi Airport is the busiest airport in India and more than 7 crore passengers travel from here every year. This number is expected to double in the next 6-8 years. In such a situation, better connectivity between terminals is very important. Air trains run free at airports around the world. The same is expected to happen in India. The cost of improving the airport infrastructure is recovered from the landing and parking charges taken from the airlines.
The tender document states that DIAL proposes to implement an elevated cum at-grade APM system at Delhi International Airport on a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model. The APM system aims to provide reliable, fast connectivity between T1 and T3/2 via Aerocity and Cargo City, covering a distance of about 7.7 km. The introduction of Air Train at Delhi Airport will provide great convenience to passengers and save their time. It will also increase the capacity of the airport.
What is Air Train?
Air Train, also known as Automated People Mover (APM), is an automated train system used to connect different terminals and other important locations at airports. Its main purpose is to transport passengers from one terminal to another in a fast and convenient way. The Air Train facility at Delhi Airport will reduce the need for shuttle buses and passengers will be able to reach from one terminal to another faster.