End of an era: Delhi airport’s terminal 2 may be ‘abandoned’ by 2033

NEW DELHI: The countdown has finally begun for the 1986-era Terminal 2 of Delhi Airport, which is likely to be “abandoned” by 2033.

The mammoth T3 is set to get even bigger. The GMR-run Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) is evaluating when T3 should get its fifth pier, which will have a capacity of handling 1.2 crore passengers annually (CPA) — the same as that of T2. Once that happens, the domestic traffic being handled by T2 will move to T3’s new Pier E.

The timing of the proposed Pier E and the upcoming air train are the key elements of the new master plan being worked out for IGIA.

“We will submit the master plan to the aviation ministry in a few months. Our primary focus is on when Pier E should bebuilt — whether sometime soon or in a decade — and having the automated people mover operational in 30 months. T2 can be used for a maximum of six to seven more years, and then it will have to be abandoned. The future use of T2 site will be decided in next few years depending on how trafficshapes up then,” GBS Raju, chairman of GMR Airports, told TOI .

To determine the timing of Pier E, which will come up closest to the ramp leading to T3, the operator is in talks with airlines to understand when they would require the additional capacity depending on thelatter’s aircraft induction schedules.

Delivery of ordered Airbus and Boeing planes has been getting delayed due to supply chain issues affecting the aviation industry on all fronts, including seats and engines. The ongoing US-Iran war has compounded the uncertainty, as no one can say at this time when oil prices will cool down and demand for travel will resume.

“The master plan will be aligned with airlines’ strategy. Due to the West Asia crisis, it is taking a little longer to finalise the plan,” he said.

Getting the timing right is key, as T3 expansion requires significant work on multiple fronts apart from building the new pier. These include widening the ramp leading to T3 and extending the forecourt to the left.

“With the conversionof Pier C from domestic to international, T3 has now three international piers that can handle upto 3.4 CPA. Pier D, the only domestic pier at T3 for now, can handle 90 lakh passengers annually. There are options for future use of the T2 site, as we have to be very agile in a dynamic world,” said Raju.

DIAL’s new master plan is focussing on Pier E and automated people mover as the other big-ticket works in GMR’s first 30-year concession period, which gets over in a decade, have been completed in terms of terminal and airside capacity and connectivity.

Whether Pier E comes up now or in the second 30-year concession period that GMR is eligible for a second concession period subject to the nod of the then govt remains to be seen.