Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has issued a tender to build India’s first air train or Automated People Mover (APM) at Delhi Airport. This air train will run between Terminal 2/3, Terminal 1, Aerocity and Cargo City. DIAL has also given the alignment for this 7.7 km route.
New Delhi: Going from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2/3 of Delhi Airport has become a headache. Sometimes due to traffic jams, people are not able to reach their terminal on time and miss their flight. However, after a few years, going from T1 to T2 will be a matter of minutes. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has decided to build an Automated People Mover (APM) to make the journey between Terminal 1 and Terminal 2/3 easier. 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 the passengers coming to and from Delhi Airport, especially those who want to go from one terminal to another. Till now one had to go 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 could 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, which includes two stops at Aerocity, will not only increase the travel time between T1 and T2/3 but will also require foolproof security at non-terminal stops.
Can be kept free 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 for 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 fees charged from 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, connecting a distance of about 7.7 km between T1 and T3/2 via Aerocity and Cargo City. The introduction of Air Train at Delhi Airport will provide great convenience to passengers and save their time. This 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 various terminals and other important places at airports. Its main purpose is to transport passengers from one terminal to another in a fast and convenient manner. With the facility of Air Train at Delhi Airport, passengers will reduce the need for shuttle buses and they will be able to reach from one terminal to another faster.
