Indira Gandhi International Airport of the New Delhi now preparing for one of the its biggest passenger convenience upgrades for the future. After a lot of years discussion, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has confirmed that the airport will get its first automated air train system and it is designed to make the transfers between the terminals much faster and easier.
What Is Delhi Airport Air Train Project?
Delhi Airport operated by DIAL and managed by GMR Airports and they have decided to directly fund the long awaited Automated People Mover (APM) project after the earlier attempt to execute it through a concessionaire model failed.
The airport’s original plan was to invite a private third-party operator to build and manage the project while recovering the investment through advertising and commercial earnings.
However the plan received only one bidder and it could not get move forward.
Now, DIAL will fund the project through its own internal resources and will recover costs through airport tariffs and other revenue channels.
What Will the Delhi Airport Air Train Connect?
The new automated transit system will connect the key airport zones which include the,
- Terminal 1
- Terminal 2
- Terminal 3
- Aerocity
- Cargo City
The full route will cover the approximately 7.7 kilometres and allows the seamless movement across airport infrastructure.
Free for Transit Flyers, Paid for Non-Passengers
One of the major highlights is that the air train will be free for the transit passengers.
Passengers will simply scan their boarding pass to access the service and they can move to their required terminal.
However, the non-passengers, such as people visiting the airport to drop off or receive travelers, may need to pay a fare.
How Will the Air Train Operate?
During peak transit windows, the APM may operate in an express mode.
This means that trains could run directly between Terminal 1 and Terminal 3/2 without stopping at the Aerocity or Cargo City and will help to passengers with tight connections.
The station design is also being planned carefully.
Technology and Construction Plans
Since this is the first airport air train project in the India, international expertise will likely to be used for train technology and operations.
DIAL has reportedly studied systems from the countries like,
- South Korea
- Jakarta
- Italy
- Switzerland
The rolling stock provider is expected to be the overseas company, while the track construction and station development will likely to be handled by Indian infrastructure firms.
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