Terminal 3 update

It is official now. Domestic operations will not be shifting to new terminal T3 till at least mid-September. There is also a possibility that domestic passengers may not get to use the new terminal at all till the end of the Commonwealth Games. The decision was taken by civil aviation minister Praful Patel after he reviewed the preparedness at the terminal on Thursday evening. With issues like power, water and accessibility to the airport yet to be resolved, a new date for transfer of partial domestic operations will only be taken in mid-September now.
Domestic operations of full cost carriers — Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher — were to have been shifted to T3 on August 27, delayed from the initial date by more than a month. However, teething troubles after international operations moved to T3 on July 28 and allegations of incomplete work, forced the ministry to intervene and take stock of the situation. A delay in constructing a 220kV power substation for the airport might delay the move of domestic operations to T3. After the review, the minister found that ‘‘commissioning of the impending 220 kV substation of M/s Delhi Transco Ltd is an inevitable requirement. Though the substation was to be commissioned by July 31, 2010 as per earlier plan, the Transco representative stated that it would be ready only by September 15, 2010. At present, the quality of power supply is erratic which is affecting the sophisticated baggage handling and security equipment at the terminal.’’
The airport is also not getting the required quantity of water. The Dwarka water treatment plant that is to supply water to the airport is not yet ready and DDA has been proportioning water for the airport from Dwarka’s share at present. Officials said the Dwarka WTP was not likely to be ready for another year at least. Ministry officials also felt that with the domestic operations also shifting to T3, traffic volume to the airport would grow substantially. However, the underpass connecting the Dwarka junction to the central spine at Mahipalpur that leads to T3 is not yet complete, leaving only one approach road to the terminal.