How is T3 planning to expand capacity by 1 crore passengers? Here are the details

Upgradation work will be taken up on three fronts in the next four years — sprucing up Terminal 2, upgrading runway 10/28 to enable low visibility operations from both ends before next winter, building a pier, a long and narrow building that houses parked aircraft, and converting another at T3. This would entail shifting all flights from T2 to the redeveloped and expanded T1, which DIAL expects will be fully operational by April, after which T2 will be shut for 4-5 months.

In a submission to the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) while determining aeronautical tariff for a five-year period ending March 31, 2029, DIAL has said: “Existing domestic capacity of DIAL will get exhausted by 2027-28 and, hence, will require a new pier to be added to Terminal 3… This will result in the allocation of Pier A, B and C (C is currently used for domestic operations) for international traffic while Pier D and E will be completely utilised for domestic operations.”

In response to DIAL’s submission, AERA proposed a budget of Rs 1,241.33 crore to build Pier E. To develop Pier E as well as a domestic in-fill — an area that caters to domestic flyers — to the eastern side of the airport, 3,600 sqm of Terminal 3 will require reconfiguration and refurbishment.

The new pier will have 12 contact stands and 6 remote contact stands, and comprise three levels — departure, arrivals and apron, DIAL’s proposal stated.