Kerakoll revolutionises Delhi Airport with green taxiways

19 Jul 2023 CW Team

The introduction of these new facilities has significantly enhanced the capacity and operational efficiency of India's largest airport. It is anticipated that the airport will now be able to handle an annual passenger volume of 109 million.

During the inauguration, Minister Scindia emphasised that the civil aviation sector in the country is at a turning point, embarking on a phase of exponential growth.

One of the main challenges faced during the project's execution, being the first of its kind, was the design of the tunnel walls system. The vibrations caused by aircraft movement presented a significant concern. While many brands struggled to find a suitable solution, Kerakoll, an Italian company specialising in construction chemicals, recommended their most reliable product for such environmental conditions.

Kerakoll H-40 Gel underwent rigorous testing under stringent environmental conditions, including thermal, mechanical, and chemical strains. H-40 is widely recognised for its effectiveness in critical area applications such as facades, large format tiles/stones, and high-stress zones of buildings. Kerakoll has successfully installed its products in numerous airports, high-end commercial and residential buildings, as well as national projects of great importance, including the Statue of Unity and the Central Vista (Parliament building).

A spokesperson from Kerakoll stated, "We outperformed all our competitors and became the sole brand to supply adhesive and grout suitable for high-stress and seismic structures.

Minister Scindia revealed that this development will increase the airport's aircraft movement capacity from 1,400 to 15,000, nearly reaching 2,000 movements. Additionally, with the operationalisation of the ECT, the time required for planes to taxi will be reduced to approximately 10-12 minutes, down from the previous 20 minutes.

Minister Scindia also mentioned that while aircraft will be taxiing on the ECT, vehicles will be able to move on the road beneath it. Furthermore, the ECT can simultaneously accommodate two wide-body planes, such as the A380 and B777.

The ECT spans 2.1 km in length and is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, thereby minimising the time passengers spend on the tarmac after landing and before take- off. This cross taxiway connects the northern and southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport, significantly reducing the taxiing distance for aircraft by seven kilometers. Each lane is 44 meters wide, with a 47-meter gap between them, allowing for the simultaneous passage of two aircraft.

It is estimated that the ECT will save approximately 350 kg of fuel each time an aircraft taxi from RW 29R to Terminal 1 and vice versa, resulting in a reduction of nearly 1,114 kg of CO2 emissions per taxiing aircraft along this route. Annually, the ECT is expected to reduce aircraft-related CO2 emissions by approximately 55,000 tonnes. Notably, around 9,175 MT of fly ash were utilised in the construction of the ECT, contributing to its sustainability.

Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Civil Aviation Minister, inaugurated the fourth runway and Eastern Cross Taxiways (ECT) at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) on July 14, 2023. This momentous occasion marks the completion of the first aircraft taxiway in India and the fourth of its kind globally. Kerakoll, a renowned leader in the green building sector, was responsible for this exclusive project, while L&T served as the contractor. The introduction of these new facilities has significantly enhanced the capacity and operational efficiency of India's largest airport. It is anticipated that the airport will now be able to handle an annual passenger volume of 109 million. During the inauguration, Minister Scindia emphasised that the civil aviation sector in the country is at a turning point, embarking on a phase of exponential growth. One of the main challenges faced during the project's execution, being the first of its kind, was the design of the tunnel walls system. The vibrations caused by aircraft movement presented a significant concern. While many brands struggled to find a suitable solution, Kerakoll, an Italian company specialising in construction chemicals, recommended their most reliable product for such environmental conditions. Kerakoll H-40 Gel underwent rigorous testing under stringent environmental conditions, including thermal, mechanical, and chemical strains. H-40 is widely recognised for its effectiveness in critical area applications such as facades, large format tiles/stones, and high-stress zones of buildings. Kerakoll has successfully installed its products in numerous airports, high-end commercial and residential buildings, as well as national projects of great importance, including the Statue of Unity and the Central Vista (Parliament building). A spokesperson from Kerakoll stated, We outperformed all our competitors and became the sole brand to supply adhesive and grout suitable for high-stress and seismic structures. Minister Scindia revealed that this development will increase the airport's aircraft movement capacity from 1,400 to 15,000, nearly reaching 2,000 movements. Additionally, with the operationalisation of the ECT, the time required for planes to taxi will be reduced to approximately 10-12 minutes, down from the previous 20 minutes. Minister Scindia also mentioned that while aircraft will be taxiing on the ECT, vehicles will be able to move on the road beneath it. Furthermore, the ECT can simultaneously accommodate two wide-body planes, such as the A380 and B777. The ECT spans 2.1 km in length and is capable of accommodating wide-body aircraft, thereby minimising the time passengers spend on the tarmac after landing and before take- off. This cross taxiway connects the northern and southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport, significantly reducing the taxiing distance for aircraft by seven kilometers. Each lane is 44 meters wide, with a 47-meter gap between them, allowing for the simultaneous passage of two aircraft. It is estimated that the ECT will save approximately 350 kg of fuel each time an aircraft taxi from RW 29R to Terminal 1 and vice versa, resulting in a reduction of nearly 1,114 kg of CO2 emissions per taxiing aircraft along this route. Annually, the ECT is expected to reduce aircraft-related CO2 emissions by approximately 55,000 tonnes. Notably, around 9,175 MT of fly ash were utilised in the construction of the ECT, contributing to its sustainability.