New Delhi

New facilities arrive at Delhi airport

NEW DELHI: The year 2008 proved to be a mixed bag for Indira Gandhi International Airport here in the Capital. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) took several steps to equip the airport with modern facilities.

“The biggest development of the year was commissioning of the third runway (11-29). Completed more than six months ahead of schedule, the runway is among the longest in Asia and capable of handling new-generation large aircraft,” said a senior DIAL official in a year-end review of the scenario at the airport.

The new runway is equipped with CAT IIIB Instrument Landing System at both ends allowing compatible aircraft to land even when visibility is as low as 50 metres. However, the runway was commissioned for low-visibility air traffic operations only in the second week of December after installation of surface movement radars.

A state-of-the-art Airport Operation Command Centre (AOCC) was also set up during the year to streamline airport operations.

“The AOCC is a high-technology asset that will monitor and coordinate operations within the terminal, air-side, cargo and other support functions of the airport,” the official added.

A fleet of new aircraft crash fire tenders have also been commissioned as part of the existing fleet of the aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles. The induction of these vehicles has boosted the airport’s capability to respond to any fire-related exigency.

DIAL also completed modernisation work on Terminal 2. The terminal space was expanded. The departure ramp of the international terminal has been widened on the city side to accommodate more vehicles. In the departure check-in area, additional space has been provided to increase the number of check-in counters. The number of immigration counters in the departure area has also gone up. For arriving passengers, immigration promises to be a smooth affair now with the addition of ten new immigration counters, taking the grand total to 48.

At Terminal 1-B, a new wing has been added to provide more space for check-in and baggage X-ray for passengers. This extension has been added to the low-cost carrier wing of the terminal. The development involves relocation of baggage X-ray machines of the low-cost airlines from their original location within the terminal building to this new extension area. Inside the terminal, the space earlier occupied by the X-ray machines is now being utilised to provide additional seating space.

DIAL recently commissioned a new wing in the security hold area of Terminal 1-B. The new wing has 150 seats and is equipped with multiple flight information display systems. A new-look Haj Terminal awaited pilgrims travelling for Haj pilgrimage after DIAL upgraded facilities at the terminal.

Several new eateries were also opened at the terminals, including McDonald’s, Café Ritazza and Costa Coffee.

“We have also deployed a number of traffic marshals, free luggage porters and customer care executives on the city side to guide vehicles, help passengers with their luggage and guide them to their respective entry gates,” the official said. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital was selected to provide medical facilities to passengers and employees at the airport.

More luxury coaches were commissioned to run within the domestic terminals and between domestic and international terminal. DIAL, and Outlook Group launched a monthly magazine, Outlook Lounge, comprising articles on travel, lifestyle and showbiz along with information related to Delhi airport.

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