Delhi's IGI Airport unveils comprehensive interstate transport hub

Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport is poised to establish a comprehensive interstate transport hub in close proximity to Aerocity, as announced by Delhi International Airport Limited, the entity overseeing airport operations. This multifaceted hub is designed to integrate various modes of transportation, including an Interstate Bus Terminus (ISBT), the upcoming phase 4 line of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), the proposed Passenger Transport Centre (PTC), and the planned Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) station. Presently, despite a substantial influx of travellers from neighbouring states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, there is no existing ISBT near Delhi Airport. The new ISBT will be collaboratively developed with the Delhi Transport Department, featuring cutting-edge amenities such as retail outlets, food and beverage shops, electric vehicle charging points, waiting halls, business centres, and internet/Wi-Fi services. The facility, designed to accommodate 50 buses, will be developed incrementally. Additionally, the RRTS station will incorporate an Automated Passenger Mover (APM) near GMR Aerocity, particularly significant from March 2024, when Terminal 2 of the airport is slated for temporary closure. Notably, the airport has experienced a surge in passenger traffic, reaching a record 47.8 million passengers in the first eight months of 2023-24, marking a 15% increase from the same period the previous year. The upward trajectory in passenger numbers is further underscored by a month-on-month growth, with November witnessing a 7% increase in passenger traffic compared to October, according to a recent report by GMR, the leading entity in Delhi International Airport Limited.