Delhi Airport's Air Train to Be Operational in 30 Months
New Delhi: The long-awaited air train at Delhi Airport will be ready in 30 months, according to the airport operator. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) will fund the construction of a Rs 3,000-4,000 crore automated people mover (APM) that will connect Terminals 3/2, T1, Aerocity, and the cargo city, ensuring seamless transfers.
The decision to self-fund came after the earlier plan to involve a concessionaire failed to attract bidders. The air train will be free of charge for transit passengers, while non-passengers will have to pay.
In an exclusive interaction with TOI, GBS Raju, chairman of GMR Airports which operates IGIA, stated: “We have to do it (APM) to create a world-class hub. When we started in 2006, transfer passengers were 5%. Today it is 25% and growing. So inter-terminal connectivity is important. Just like runways and terminals, the APM is crucial for IGIA and will be ready in 30 months (by or in 2029).”
Lessons from Previous Tender
DIAL learned from its experience two years ago when its tender for a 7.7-km APM on a DBFOT model received only one bid. The airport operator will now use internal accruals for the investment and recover costs through tariffs and other revenue sources like advertising to minimize tariff impact.
Operational Details
In a hub-and-spoke model, during peak hours for transit connections, the APM will run non-stop between T1 and T3/2 without stopping at Aerocity and cargo terminal stations. Raju explained: “Passengers will scan their boarding card to hop on the APM and proceed to the terminal their flight is from.”
This scanning is necessary because Indian airports see many people accompanying passengers, unlike most hubs abroad. The APM expense will be included in DIAL's submission to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority for tariff determination.
Technology and Implementation
As this is India's first airport air train, the rolling stock technology provider and operator will likely be from abroad. The civil work, including track laying and station construction, will be done by an Indian company. Stations will be located at terminal entrances, about 2-3 minutes walking distance from other multi-modal stations.
Raju added: “We are soon going to call for bids (from rolling stock service providers). DIAL will treat the two jobs — laying tracks, building stations; and rolling stock — separately. The civil work will be given to good construction companies. We have studied the technology used in South Korea, Jakarta, Italy, and Switzerland. We visited them all and zeroed in on the most user-friendly and latest options.”
