A fascinating insight into Terminal 3 at Delhi’s IGI Airport

If you are visiting India and arrive at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport’s Terminal 3, then you are in for a great surprise. You have arrived at the world’s second best airport, under the 25-40 million passengers category. The airport was adjudged as the world’s second best in 2013 by the Airport Council International. The IGI Airport is also named as world’s 4th best across all categories among 199 airports.
 
With such accolades from the aviation industry, the swanky Terminal 3 today stands as India’s pride. The gleaming terminal made of steel and glass was inaugurated in 2010. The terminal is quite expansive, spreading over 5.5 million square feet, and has the capacity to handle 34 million passengers every year.

The imposing Terminal 3 has been specifically planned to fit superjumbo Airbus A380. The passengers departing from T3 find it quite convenient to board the aircraft directly from the boarding area with the help of 78 aerobridges as well as 92 moving walkways.

The Terminal 3 has been exquisitely designed. There has been a great emphasis on saving energy. This objective has been appropriately fulfilled with the magnificent 9-level steel and glass structure allowing natural light to the maximum, without getting it heated. This thus saves on the use of energy. The IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 is also the world’s first terminal to be acknowledged by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The T3 was a part of Clean Development Mechanism project for initiatives in emission reduction.

Here’s is a brief outlook about the amazing T3. This state-of-the-art terminal was opened to public in 2010. The terminal’s building is currently the world’s 24th largest. It is also the world’s eighth largest passenger terminal. The terminal is housed in a two-tier building. The arrivals area is situated on the bottom floor, while the departures area is on the top floor. The terminal comprises of duty-free shops, 15 X-ray screening areas, 95 immigration counters, 54 parking bays, 48 contact stands, 78 aerobridges, 168 check-in counters, 14 baggage carousels in the arrival area, and various other features. The T3 is connected to Delhi with an efficient transportation system comprising of the Delhi Metro and an eight-lane motorway.

The terminal has large waiting areas for passengers checking in for both domestic as well as international flights. The passengers can make use of the business centers, lounges, bars, restaurants and shops while waiting for their flights or upon arrivals. The terminal also has a 100-room hotel within its sprawling 20 acre complex, which can be used by passengers for relaxation prior to their flights.

The Terminal 3 is also home to the India’s very first automatized parking management and guidance system. The terminal is outfitted with a multi-level car parking, enough to accommodate 4,300 cars. This multi-level parking has 7 levels.

The Terminal 3 is well equipped regarding security concerns as it with other international airports around the world. There are some 3,000 cameras keeping vigil of the goings on within the terminal.