Terminal 2 of the Delhi Airport, which is now almost four decades old, might get abandoned in 2033. Yes, you read that right. The reason behind this is the major expansion plans of the operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Terminal 3 of the Delhi airport will be expanded under this major expansion plan. This might lead to the phasing out of Terminal 2, as per a report by The Times of India. Here’s everything you must know:
Delhi Airport’s Terminal 2 Might Phase Out in 2033
Increasing Passenger Handling Capacity
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), which is owned by Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao (GMR), the largest private airport operator in Asia, is currently planning a major expansion plan. Under this plan, DIAL is evaluating the construction of Pier E at Terminal 3. Pier E will be the fifth pier at the terminal. It will have the capacity to handle about 1.2 crore passengers annually. This number is roughly equivalent to Terminal 2’s (T2) current capacity of handling passengers.
According to the plan, if the new pier becomes operational, T2’s current domestic traffic can be shifted to T3’s Pier E. This will eventually lead to the closure of Terminal 2.
Chairman of GMR Airports, GBS Raju, told TOI that Terminal 2 can be used for a maximum of six to seven more years only. After this, it will have to be abandoned. He also mentioned that the future of the usage of the T2 site will also depend on other factors. This includes traffic growth, and this will be decided in the upcoming years.
Also Read: Delhi Airport Introduces e-Arrival Card: No More Paper Forms For Foreign Travelers
Master Plan For Indira Gandhi International Airport
The construction of Pier E is a part of a new master plan for Indira Gandhi International Airport. Its key elements include an automated people mover or air train rollout and a construction timeline for Pier E. These elements are expected to get operational within about 30 months.
Before finalizing the timeline for the construction of Pier E, DIAL is consulting airlines, too. This is because of the ongoing global supply chain disruptions due to the West Asia conflict. Hence, the plan is taking a bit longer to finalise, according to the GMR chairman. The new expansion plan also includes extending the forecourt area and widening the access ramps.
Also Read: How To Travel From Delhi Airport Using Metro: Detailed Delhi Metro Airport Express Line Guide
Summing Up
Terminal 2 of Delhi Airport might witness abandonment in 2033. This might happen due to the new expansion plan of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi. Under this plan, Terminal 3 will have a fifth pillar known as Pier E, which will handle the number of passengers that is equivalent to the current T2 capacity.
