Delhi airport to have multi-modal transport hub near Aerocity: Operator

The new facility will help passengers from adjoining interstate cities to catch international flights

The Delhi airport’s proposed interstate multi-modal transport hub – aiming to integrate bus, metro and air services to provide enhanced passenger experience to flyers – will be developed on about 3.5 acres near Aerocity, according to sources in the Delhi government and the Indian aviation industry.

The cost of the new ISBT (interstate bus terminal) at this hub is likely to be borne by the Delhi government and expected to be developed as per Delhi city's master plan, they said.

However, the allied infrastructure — restaurants, retail space, washrooms, lockers — at the ISBT will be provided and maintained by the operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), they noted. The proposed hub is scheduled to be built just in front of the Aerocity metro station.

The Delhi government sources said that the project's cost is yet to be finalised as it is in the initial stages. The GMR Group-led DIAL on Wednesday announced that it is planning to establish this transport hub to ensure convenience to passengers.

"The hub will be well connected with 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 proposed rapid rail transit system (RRTS) station, including the station for automated passenger mover (APM) near the GMR Aerocity," DIAL noted.

Currently, there is no proper facility for parking these interstate buses at Delhi Airport. "Therefore, this proposed facility will immensely help all the passengers coming from adjoining interstate cities to catch international flights," it said.

The proposed airport ISBT will have passenger amenities that will match the airport standards, DIAL noted. It will have multiple facilities like retail, food outlets, EV (electric vehicle) charging, transit facilities, comfortable waiting areas, ambience, waiting hall, business centre, internet/Wi-Fi services, souvenir shops for passengers, meeters and greeters.

Passengers coming to Delhi Airport by buses run by state transport undertakings and private operators, from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand would be able to alight here and use any other mode of transport like APM or metro to reach the terminal to catch their flights, it said.

Currently, after disembarking at Delhi Airport, many travellers proceed to their respective destinations in these states using either a bus, which they have to catch from ISBT at Kashmere Gate and Anand Vihar, or by train, it noted.

The Delhi airport is currently handling about 8,374 flights per week, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The ISBT would be able to handle around 50 buses and would be developed in a phased manner through a suitable model, to be decided after the designs are finalised, it stated.