Delhi's new Domestic Terminal snippets

The new departure terminal for domestic flights is finally set for inauguration on February 26. The Rs 500-crore-project, that was to be commissioned in November last year, has been delayed due to several reasons and even now, will not be operational before March-end. During the next two months, most domestic airlines, with the exception of Air India and MDLR, will shift their operations to the new building. The new building, almost double in area to the present departure terminal 1B, has been designed to give a breather to passengers who till now have been dealing with very cramped terminals. Although, it is still in the final stages of construction, developers claim it would be operational by March-end. Sources, however, say it may take a little longer. The terminal will have a capacity of 10 million passengers per annum. It will have 72 check-in counters as against the present 32. Security channels will go up to 16. The terminal will also have in-line baggage screening system, at present available only at the international terminal. The two level building will have a separate ramp leading to the second level for departing passengers. The passengers will be required to go to the ground level for boarding their flights only when the announcement is made. Sources said that the baggage make-up area, from where baggage will be loaded on trolleys and sent to aircraft, will also be on the ground level, leaving the upper level exclusively for passengers. Retail and food and beverage counters will also be provided. However, the delayed project is giving airlines quite a nightmare. Once they shift to terminal 1D by April, they will have barely one year before shifting to the integrated terminal — terminal 3. As of now, almost all airlines from terminal 1B and Kingfisher from terminal 1A will be shifting to the new departure terminal. Once the new integrated terminal is ready, all full cost carriers will move to it and terminal 1D will serve as the country’s first low cost carrier terminal. ‘‘Moving from one terminal to other is a logistical nightmare for airlines. Operations will not be stopped so we would have to carry out the shifting only after flights have left. By the time we would be able to settle down, it will be time to shift again. From our point of view, it is only a lot of confusion during the first few months,’’ said a senior airline official.