Ahmedabad: A major infrastructure reshuffle is underway at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) Airport as part of plans to build a new integrated terminal building (NITB). Sources privy to the matter told TOI that the airport operator is now exploring laying a dedicated road to segregate general aviation (GA) and VIP movement from commercial passenger traffic.
New Internal Road to Ease Congestion
The sources added that a new internal road has been planned linking the airport campus on the Meghaninagar side to Dafnala Circle to ease congestion around the terminal. The move comes as the airport operator is considering shifting the existing GujSail Terminal and GA terminal, which handle the non-scheduled and VIP movements. The process to identify an alternate location for the two terminals as well as the groundwork to obtain preliminary approvals has begun.
Alternate Location Under Consideration
One of the locations under consideration for relocating the GA and GujSail terminals is near the existing GSEC cargo terminal. This will free up space for the expanded terminal infrastructure. Once finalized, a dedicated road corridor linking the relocated terminals to Dafnala is being considered, a source told TOI.
Currently, all passengers from Ahmedabad, including those travelling on commercial flights, private charters and state-operated aircraft, use overlapping access routes from Dafnala to the Airport Circle or from Ring Road and Hansol to the Airport Circle, often leading to congestion during peak hours and VIP movements. The proposed road will segregate passenger flow, allowing smoother access to the main terminal while diverting GA and VIP traffic through a separate corridor, the source said.
Project Progress and Hurdles
According to officials, the project remains on schedule, with all development activities progressing in line with planned timelines and milestones, while external road works are being undertaken by respective authorities. However, the plan faces a key hurdle, as part of the concerned alignment is expected to pass through Army Cantonment land, requiring defence clearances. Discussions are understood to be at a preliminary stage, and clearances from government as well as defence authorities will be crucial for the project to move forward.
A dedicated access for VIP and chartered flights will certainly help reduce bottlenecks near terminal entry points and improve overall traffic management within the airport premises, a source said.
