AAI may lose three floors to pave way for fourth runway at IGI Airport

NEW DELHI: The authorities at IGI Airport are likely to demolish three floors of a building
of Airport Authority of India next week. The building is coming in the way of operation of the
fourth runway, which will help in enhancing the capacity of the Delhi airport. The construction of
the fourth runway has been completed and, according to sources, installation of the instrument
landing system has to be done now.
Airport sources said a five-storey building of AAI is an obstacle on the side of the approach path
of the runway. The permission from AAI to demolish three floors is awaited, but nearly 750
employees of this building have already been shifted to a new location. Sources said three
floors of this building would be demolished next week depending on the permission from AAI.
After the fourth runway becomes operational, IGI Airport will become the first airport in the
country to have four runways. The new runway is 4,400 metres long and 75 metres wide. The
third runway, which runs parallel to the fourth, is a bit bigger.

The fourth runway has been constructed to increase the air traffic movements. “It will help in
increasing the capacity of the airport and in take-off and landing of more flights. It will also aid in
smooth operation and enhance passenger experience,” said sources.
An airport official said once the fourth runway becomes functional, it would reduce the waiting
time for flights to land. “The installation of instrument landing system and CAT gear, which
assists pilots in landing of aircraft during low visibility or dense fog, has to be done now,” said
sources.
The construction of the fourth runway is part of the phase 3A expansion, which is being done to
cater to increased air traffic in future. Apart from the fourth runway, other development plans
under phase 3A are dual elevated eastern cross taxiways, landside developments for circulation
and connectivity improvements and T3 modification work, and the integrated terminal 1, which
will have arrival and departure terminal under one roof.
After completion of these projects under the phase 3A expansion work, it would increase the
passenger handling capacity of the Delhi airport to 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA)
and also enhance the airside capacity to handle 140 MPPA.
Airport officials had earlier said the ongoing phase 3A expansion work encompasses various
large-scale development and modernisation activities to make the airport future-ready. The work
is scheduled to be completed by 2023.