Delhi Airport Plans Rs 3,500-Crore Driverless Transit System

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has unveiled a master plan for 2026–2036 to increase the annual passenger handling capacity of Indira Gandhi International Airport to between 125 million and 129 million. A central component of this expansion is a 7.3-km driverless Automated People Mover (APM) expected to be operational by December 2030.

The APM project, estimated to cost Rs 3,500 crore, will feature six stations and connect Terminals 1, 2, and 3, the cargo terminal, and Aerocity. The system will consist of a 5.3-km elevated section and a 2-km ground-level stretch, reducing travel time between T1 and T3 to approximately 13 minutes. DIAL expects the system to handle 55,000 passengers daily in its first year, eventually rising to 85,000 at saturation.

Other infrastructure upgrades include the construction of a new domestic Pier E at Terminal 3, scheduled for completion between 2029 and April 2030, and the expansion of access roads and forecourts. DIAL also aims to increase daily aircraft movements to 1,700 by summer 2027. While the overall investment for these expansions is estimated at Rs 7,000 crore, CEO Pradeep Panicker noted that near-term traffic projections for 2026–27 were revised downward due to airspace restrictions and the West Asia crisis.