Delhi airport to get new terminal, runway

With an eye on the Commonwealth Games, the GMR-led consortium announced on Wednesday Rs 6,703 crore (Rs 67.03 billion) expansion plan for the Delhi Airport, which includes opening of an integrated terminal building and construction of one of Asia's longest runway.

The new terminal, to be made operational by 2010 as part of phase one of modernisation, will augment the airport's passenger handling capacity from the present 16.24 million per annum to 37 million per annum, GMR said in New Delhi unveiling the master plan for the airport.

A new domestic terminal would be made operational by 2008 under the mega expansion plan which include opening of a multi-level parking facility, links to metro station and carparking, new hangers, power station and improving general aviation facilities.

"The

Commonwealth Games is a platform to highlight the modern face of India and Delhi in particular....We want to elevate Delhi airport into the league of Frankfurt, Dubai and Geneva," DIAL Managing Director Srinivas Bommidala told reporters.

The new terminal building will have more than 130 check-in counters, nearly 40 X-ray scanners, 74 immigration desks for international passengers, 55 contact stands (aerobridges) and 30 remote parking bays.

Six of the aerobridges would be campatible for Airbus A380. The two-tier terminal building would have the departure complex on the upper level and the arrivals on the lower level, he added.

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