It May Be Nightmare No More At Indira Gandhi International Airport

December 7, 2003

It May Be Nightmare No More At IG Airport  
Financial Express, India
  
NEW DELHI, DEC 7:  Notwithstanding the proposed disinvestment, the Airport 
Authority of India is determined to change the image of the Capital’s Indira 
Gandhi International Airport. 

Soon, a passenger can take time out from his busy schedule to chill out in the 
beer bar, enjoy a movie at the home theatre, relax on designer sofas and travel 
to the city in ‘cool cabs.’ 

“These facilities are being introduced at the airport. Authorities are also 
working with the taxi union and joint commissioner (traffic) to introduce 
‘cool cabs’ amongst yellow top taxies,” a civil aviation ministry source 
said. 

The airport is likely to be equipped with a home theatre in the transit area of 
the international terminal. The project is scheduled to be completed by end of 
the year. To provide maximum comfort to the passengers, new designer sofas will 
replace the existing rexene and foam type sofas. These sofas are specially 
designed by National Institute of Design, and will be in place by July next. 

The airports authority is also taking special care of food and beverages 
outlets. It is working towards setting up branded fast food outlets at the 
airport besides having a beer bar at Terminal II. Passengers can chill out 
during flight delays at the beer bar from the first quarter of 2004. Soft music 
is an add-on to the entertainment and comfort concept. Keeping passengers’ 
need in mind, the authority also has a plan to create a ‘smokers chamber’ 
in the transit area. The proposal is still at the design stage. 

Further, there is a plan to provide rail links to those passengers who intend 
to visit various parts of the country where railways is the most convenient 
mode of transportation. A new railway reservation counter is likely to come up 
at the domestic arrival area shortly. “The matter is being pursued with the 
Railways,” the aviation ministry source said. 

The airports authority has asked for the aviation ministry’s approval to 
refurbish Terminal 1B and setting up of a railway reservation counter. It has 
also requested the ministry to expedite the process of setting up additional 
duty-free shops. 

In the meanwhile, the airports authority has completed several work to beautify 
the airport. Replacement of three baggage conveyor systems with additional 
length at the international terminal has already completed and the fourth is 
likely to be completed by the month-end. 

While tenders for improving the flooring of Terminal I arrival had opened 
recently, the low height glazed partition work (between the check-in area & 
security hold area) is already complete. Work is also in progress for 
constructing an airport transfer lounge at the international terminal. Eight 
additional immigration counters are also ready. It will be operative as soon as 
the duty-free shops are shifted. There are provisions of additional duty-free 
shops in the international arrival and one-shop in departure. 

A tender is being floated to create 16 additional check-in counters in the 
erstwhile Ashoka Restaurant area in the departure lounge. The project is likely 
to be completed by September next.
 
 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************