GMR plans to de-congest domestic terminal at IGIA

Private airport operator GMR has put in place an action plan to de-congest the domestic terminal (1D) at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).

The action plan <g data-gr-id="31">include</g> optimum utilisation of check-in counters, <g data-gr-id="32">introduction</g> of flap gates at the boarding place and an increased boarding gate area among others.

Budget carriers IndiGo, GoAir and SpiceJet currently operate from this terminal, which was built to handle 16 million passengers annually.

Civil Aviation Ministry has already given its nod to the action plan, after aviation secretary R N Choubey held a review meeting during a recent visit to the Delhi Airport, an official release said on Saturday.

The review meeting was also attended by officials from CISF, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) besides senior management of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the joint venture company which runs IGIA. 

The civil aviation secretary during the meeting emphasised for better coordination among all stakeholders including government agencies to provide a <g data-gr-id="35">passenger friendly</g> environment at the airport, the release said.

As part of the plan, airlines have been asked to utilise all available check-in counters to ease congestion, it said adding presently airlines are utilising only 58 check-in counters against the 96 available to them, which is leading to longer queues.

Also, DIAL has increased the number of x-ray machines by two more to 18 besides increasing number of frisking booths to 36 from 32. To reduce the waiting time at the security screening, 

CISF will deploy additional manpower by September 15 at all such machines and frisking booths, it said.

DIAL will also increase the width of the terminal entry gate, which would enable deployment of two CISF personnel at each gate against one personnel at present.

Besides, DIAL will start trials for self-bag drop machines by October 1, it said adding the airport operator will also use specialised trays to facilitate speedy screening of hand baggage.

To improve passenger convenience at <g data-gr-id="39">boarding</g> gate, DIAL will increase the area to 3,574 <g data-gr-id="36">sqm</g> from the current 1,787 <g data-gr-id="37">sqm</g> and the number of boarding gates to 20 from 16 at present, it said.

Also, inter-terminal transfer on airside will be made operational by September 15 as part of the terminal de-congestion plan, the release added.