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The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) in Delhi is preparing for major upgrades to handle the growing number of passengers. As part of these improvements, Terminal 2 (T2) will be temporarily closed for four to five months starting in April. The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has announced this closure to allow for renovation work that will improve the terminal's infrastructure and enhance the overall travel experience.
Upgrades Planned for Terminal 2
Terminal 2, which was built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) 40 years ago, will undergo major changes. The renovation will include the installation of India's first autonomous docking aerobridges, modern ceilings with skylights, advanced flooring, and better road connections. These upgrades aim to make IGIA one of the leading aviation hubs in India and Southeast Asia.
Along with the terminal improvements, one of the airport's runways will also be closed temporarily to allow for further development work. T2 is expected to operate at full capacity by the financial year 2025-26, supporting the growing demand for domestic air travel.
Temporary Shifts to Terminal 1
During the closure of Terminal 2, its passenger traffic will be moved to Terminal 1 (T1). The CEO of DIAL, Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, has confirmed that the refurbishment of Terminal 1 is almost complete and is expected to be finished by March 15. Once the necessary approvals are obtained, T1 will take over T2's operations, managing an additional 15 million passengers.
This shift is part of the larger Phase 3A development plan, which has received an investment of Rs 12,500 crore. This project includes the construction of T1, a new taxiway, an apron with aircraft parking stands, and other airport infrastructure improvements.
Changes in Terminal 3 Operations
As the number of passengers at IGIA continues to increase, changes are also being planned for Terminal 3 (T3). Currently, a part of T3 is used for domestic flights, but the airport management is planning to shift this section for international use.
Jaipuriar explained that the international terminal (T3) is designed for 20 million passengers but is currently handling around 24 million. To ease this pressure, Pier C of T3 will be converted from domestic to international use. This change will increase the international passenger capacity at T3 to 32 million, ensuring that the airport can meet the expected growth in the next few years.
At present, IGIA handles around 109 million passengers each year across its three terminals-T1, T2, and T3. T1 serves 40 million passengers, T2 handles 15 million, and T3, originally designed for 34 million international passengers, now manages nearly 45 million.
In addition to the terminal upgrades, the closure of T2 will also allow for improvements to one of the airport's runways. The runway will be upgraded with a new Instrument Landing System (ILS) to meet CAT III B standards, which will help flights operate during foggy winter months. The DIAL CEO has assured that this upgrade will be completed before the next winter season.
