Expanded Tunnel Road Under Runway Could Ease IGIA Terminal Transfers
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Expanded Tunnel Road Under Runway Could Ease IGIA Terminal Transfers

Delhi International Airport (DIAL), which manages Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), has proposed to widen the only tunnel-road-under-a-runway in India. This initiative is part of a broader plan aimed at easing the 7km commute between Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminals 3/2, making the journey smoother for transit passengers.

With T1 set to handle four crore passengers annually starting this summer, the volume of transit traffic is expected to surge significantly. To manage this increase, DIAL has put forward a plan to build a Y-shaped flyover connecting the Northern Access Road to roads leading to Dwarka, Dhaula Kuan, and Vasant Vihar.

The proposal includes widening the existing 6-lane tunnel road (three lanes in each direction) by adding an additional 6-lane underpass section. The flyover will ensure seamless travel between T1 and T3, bypassing the currently congested NSG junction. To support the rising vehicular traffic, the Northern Access Road linking the two terminals will also need to be widened.

The estimated cost for this project is between Rs 3-3.50 billion. DIAL has sought assistance from both the Delhi and central governments, as the road falls under the state's Public Works Department (PWD). A person familiar with the development mentioned, “It is proposed that the state contribute 20 per cent of the funds through the Centre’s urban development fund, with 80 per cent from the Centre.” The request has been submitted to both governments.

In August 2023, the LG’s office urged the state government to take “appropriate action” on these proposals, which are crucial for improving connectivity to IGIA. IGIA handled eight crore passengers in 2024, and once Terminal 2 (T2) is demolished, the airport’s peak capacity could reach 14 crore passengers annually in the near future.

Several years ago, the Centre directed DIAL to conduct a detailed traffic study to ensure congestion-free connectivity to IGIA, taking into account future traffic volumes up to 2034. DIAL subsequently appointed Japanese consultant Nippon Koei, which recommended the Y-shaped flyover and expanded Northern Access Road as top priorities.

Currently, IGIA is one of the busiest airports in the world, with terminals that are not connected by an automated people mover, unlike other global hubs. A proposed air train linking T3/2, T1, Aerocity, and the cargo city was delayed due to COVID-19 and is still expected to take 3-4 years to materialize.

The deadline for submitting proposals for this project is reportedly by the end of February. DIAL plans to implement an elevated and at-grade automated people mover system at IGIA, following a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer model. This system aims to provide reliable, fast, and seamless connectivity between T1 and T3/2, covering a route of approximately 7.7 km via Aerocity and the cargo city, as outlined in DIAL’s tender document.

Your next big infra connection is waiting at RAHSTA 2025 – Asia’s Biggest Roads & Highways Expo, Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai. Don’t miss out!

Delhi International Airport (DIAL), which manages Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), has proposed to widen the only tunnel-road-under-a-runway in India. This initiative is part of a broader plan aimed at easing the 7km commute between Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminals 3/2, making the journey smoother for transit passengers. With T1 set to handle four crore passengers annually starting this summer, the volume of transit traffic is expected to surge significantly. To manage this increase, DIAL has put forward a plan to build a Y-shaped flyover connecting the Northern Access Road to roads leading to Dwarka, Dhaula Kuan, and Vasant Vihar. The proposal includes widening the existing 6-lane tunnel road (three lanes in each direction) by adding an additional 6-lane underpass section. The flyover will ensure seamless travel between T1 and T3, bypassing the currently congested NSG junction. To support the rising vehicular traffic, the Northern Access Road linking the two terminals will also need to be widened. The estimated cost for this project is between Rs 3-3.50 billion. DIAL has sought assistance from both the Delhi and central governments, as the road falls under the state's Public Works Department (PWD). A person familiar with the development mentioned, “It is proposed that the state contribute 20 per cent of the funds through the Centre’s urban development fund, with 80 per cent from the Centre.” The request has been submitted to both governments. In August 2023, the LG’s office urged the state government to take “appropriate action” on these proposals, which are crucial for improving connectivity to IGIA. IGIA handled eight crore passengers in 2024, and once Terminal 2 (T2) is demolished, the airport’s peak capacity could reach 14 crore passengers annually in the near future. Several years ago, the Centre directed DIAL to conduct a detailed traffic study to ensure congestion-free connectivity to IGIA, taking into account future traffic volumes up to 2034. DIAL subsequently appointed Japanese consultant Nippon Koei, which recommended the Y-shaped flyover and expanded Northern Access Road as top priorities. Currently, IGIA is one of the busiest airports in the world, with terminals that are not connected by an automated people mover, unlike other global hubs. A proposed air train linking T3/2, T1, Aerocity, and the cargo city was delayed due to COVID-19 and is still expected to take 3-4 years to materialize. The deadline for submitting proposals for this project is reportedly by the end of February. DIAL plans to implement an elevated and at-grade automated people mover system at IGIA, following a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer model. This system aims to provide reliable, fast, and seamless connectivity between T1 and T3/2, covering a route of approximately 7.7 km via Aerocity and the cargo city, as outlined in DIAL’s tender document.

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

WRI, CII Launch Alliance to Drive Clean Energy in Industry

WRI India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) have jointly launched the CI-NERGY Alliance – Steering Energy Transitions to accelerate clean energy adoption within India’s commercial and industrial (C&I) sector. The initiative was unveiled during Connect Karo 2025 in New Delhi.The alliance seeks to support India’s broader climate goals—achieving 50 per cent of power capacity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030, and net zero emissions by 2070. Given that the C&I sector is among the highest electricity consumers in the country, its decarbonisation holds substantial pot..

Next Story
Real Estate

Unified RERA Portal Launched to Boost Sector Transparency

The 5th Meeting of the Central Advisory Council (CAC), constituted under the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 (RERA), was held at Sankalp Bhawan, New Delhi, marking eight years of regulatory reform in India’s real estate sector. The meeting was inaugurated with a welcome address by Shri Kuldip Narayan, Joint Secretary (Housing), Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), followed by key insights from Secretary (HUA), Shri Srinivas Katikithala, on RERA’s evolution.Union Minister of Housing & Urban Affairs, Shri Manohar Lal, and Minister of State, Shri Tokhan Sahu, ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Mumbai Nears 100K Sales Despite Rs 10B August Dip

Mumbai’s real estate market remained resilient in August 2025, recording 11,230 property registrations under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits, according to data from Knight Frank India. Despite a 3 per cent year-on-year dip and an 11 per cent decline from July, experts suggest the housing market continues to be driven by strong end-user confidence.Stamp duty collections for the month stood at Rs 10 billion, down 6 per cent from Rs 10.62 billion in August 2024. However, cumulative performance from January to August 2025 paints a strong picture—over 99,869 registrations we..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?