Brace for chaos at Delhi’s IGI airport after some key flights shift to Terminal 2
Even though DIAL has promised a feeder bus service from Terminal 2 to the Metro station and to Terminal 1, passengers are expected to face problems, going from one domestic terminal to another.
The shifting of flights to major cities — Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata — from Terminal 1 to Terminal 2 of Delhi’s IGI airport may lead to chaos as the festive season is about to start.
Delhi airport operator — Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) — has asked three low-cost airlines, Indigo, Spicejet and GoAir, to shift a part of their operations to Terminal 2 from October 29. This is being done to facilitate a major expansion of Terminal 1.
Even though DIAL has promised a feeder bus service from Terminal 2 to the Metro station and to Terminal 1, passengers are expected to face problems, going from one domestic terminal to another.
Bracing to deal with the problem, the airport operator has also prepared a new road and promised enough signages to ensure smoother flying experience for the passengers.
“We have prepared a separate road to connect commuters with Terminal 2. There will be enough signages to guide the passengers. For passengers using public transport, buses will be available. Those coming by Metro will have to either get down at Aerocity or Terminal 3 Metro station and can get a feeder bus service from there,” said an airport official.
From Aerocity, feeder buses will be available for T2 and T1 while from T3, passengers can walk to Terminal 2. Terminal 2 is almost 8km away from Terminal 1.
The airport operator had earlier asked Delhi Metro Rail Corporation to construct a tunnel, linking T2 with the airport line.
However, sources said that DMRC refused to construct the tunnel for pedestrians.
An airport official said that proper signages will be placed in and around the airport and airlines will be asked to inform their passengers in advance about the change in terminal.
DIAL is also in talks with Delhi traffic police to come up with prepaid taxi booths at Terminal 2, apart from app-based cabs.
Delhi Airport is the largest and the busiest airport in India. During the 2016-17 financial year, it handled 57.7 million passengers and over 8,57,000 tonnes of cargo. Delhi Airport has been ranked the 21st busiest airport in the world by ACI achieving highest growth of 21 % in 2016 and is among the top 30 airports in the world.