As of December 21, 2023, reports indicate a significant improvement in metro connectivity to Delhi Airport, with the potential extension of the upcoming Silver Line from Tughlaqabad to Aerocity being considered up to Terminal 1. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for government clearance, aiming to extend the metro line. The projected completion date for this proposed line is 2025.
Currently, there are two existing metro lines connecting to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. One is the Magenta Line, running between Botanical Garden and Dabri Mor-Janakpuri South, with a stop at T1. The other is the Airport Express Line, stretching from Shivaji Stadium to Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25, with stations at Aerocity and T3.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has reportedly requested the provision of check-in facilities at the Botanical Garden metro station for passengers departing from T1. According to sources cited in a TOI report, DIAL is collaborating with DMRC and a prominent Indian airline to establish this new check-in facility. Currently, the New Delhi Metro Station is the only one offering check-in services for domestic air travelers.
As per the report, the existing T1 at Delhi airport handles 1.7 crore domestic passengers, T2 (all domestic) accommodates 1.5 crore, and T3 (domestic-cum-international) serves 4.2 crore, contributing to a total airport capacity of 7.4 CPA. The combined capacity of the airport is projected to potentially increase to 13.4 CPA in the next six to eight years, positioning it among the world's busiest airports. The role of the metro becomes crucial to accommodate these numbers, particularly given the traffic congestion on Delhi-NCR roads.
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