he over three-decade-old domestic Terminal 1A of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), which has been lying vacant for five years, might spring back to life to decongest the bursting-at-the-seams Terminal 1D.
The Terminal 1D was opened in April, 2009, to cater to the increasing domestic traffic till the Terminal 3 was constructed. Even after the opening of the mega Terminal 3, Terminal 1D remained in operation as an exclusive terminal for budget carriers.
However, with rising footfalls, the terminal has crossed its saturation point and handles about 15 million passengers annually.
In its bid to decongest the terminal, the private airport operator, Delhi International Airport Ltd. (DIAL), has prepared a plan for the expansion of Terminal 1D. The plan aims to create more boarding gates, expansion of security area, and even addition of aerobridges. For the expansion of Terminal 1D, the DIAL is toying with the idea of using the Terminal 1A that has been lying vacant since 2010 after Air India shifted its operations to Terminal 3.
The Terminal 1A was built in 1983 to accommodate international VIPs coming for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
After the event was over, the terminal wasn’t used till 1988. With increasing domestic air traffic, Terminal 1A was reopened and Airbus flights were shifted to 1A. The terminal was used exclusively by Air India from then on, but later Go Air and some smaller airlines were shifted there.
The terminal was closed in 2010 after Air India moved to Terminal 3, and has been lying vacant ever since.
In the last five years there have been many plans to use the terminal, which included it being used as a new Haj terminal and even as a venue for air shows. The plans, however, didn’t fructify.
By using Terminal 1A and a few other nearby buildings for the expansion of Terminal 1D, the DIAL plans to increase the total domestic passenger handling capacity to 30 million annually. The operator is in consultation with airlines and other stakeholders to get their views on the expansion, after which it will be sent to the Civil Aviation Ministry for its approval.
there have been many plans to use the terminal, which included it being used as a new Haj terminal and even as a venue for air shows. The plans, however, didn’t fructify
