The operator of Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi has proposed raising the airport's annual passenger handling capacity to 125 million (125 mn) from the current 106 mn under a ten-year master plan that extends to 2036. The master plan is expected to be finalised after consultations with stakeholders, according to a source.

In the first phase the proposal envisages increasing capacity to 116 mn by April 2030, with a further rise to 125 mn by 2032. The plan includes the construction of Pier E at Terminal three with a capacity of 10 mn by April 2030. No firm decision has been taken on building a Terminal four or on deploying an Automated People Mover system, the source added.

At present the airport has an annual handling capacity of 106 mn spread across Terminals one, two and three, with capacities of 42 mn, 14 mn and 50 mn respectively. Terminal three accommodates 19 mn for domestic operations and 31 mn for international flights and currently operates four piers, with Pier C recently converted to international use. Pier E is planned to enhance international and domestic throughput at Terminal three.

The proposed master plan also earmarks a seven-point-five-kilometre right of way for an Automated People Mover corridor though no immediate implementation is planned. Earlier designs had envisaged an elevated cum at-grade system on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer model to link terminals and provide seamless connectivity. Delhi airport, operated by the GMR Group-led consortium Delhi International Airport Ltd, handled six mn passengers in July, a rise of 3.7 per cent year on year, while passenger traffic in the current financial year 2026-27 till July stood at 26.4 mn.