Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu inaugurated the renovated Terminal 2 (T2) at Delhi Airport on Saturday, with operations set to commence Sunday following a six-month closure for renovation works.
Terminal Specifications
T2, originally built by the Airports Authority of India four decades ago, was shut for renovations in April this year. The facility has an annual capacity to handle 15 million passengers.
Vision for Aviation Growth
“India can become one of the world’s largest civil aviation ecosystems,” Naidu stated at the inaugural function. He emphasized that the entire transfer ecosystem should be made more efficient to establish the airport as an international hub.
The minister noted the airport could achieve annual passenger handling capacity of approximately 130 million with efficient space utilization.
Naidu highlighted Delhi airport’s sustainability initiatives, including concentration on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) usage, reflecting growing environmental priorities in aviation sector planning.
Airport Infrastructure
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), India’s largest airport, operates three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—alongside four runways. The facility handles over 1,300 daily flight movements.
Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar stated the airport currently has annual passenger handling capacity exceeding 100 million. DIAL operates IGIA.
Terminal Capacity Distribution
On March 20, DIAL announced the expanded T1 can accommodate 40 million passengers, while T3 can handle 45 million passengers annually. With T2’s 15 million capacity, the airport’s combined infrastructure positions it for significant growth in coming years.
Strategic Importance
The reopening comes as Indian aviation experiences rapid growth, with increasing domestic and international passenger traffic. Delhi airport serves as a critical hub connecting India to global destinations while managing substantial domestic traffic.
Operational Timeline
The six-month renovation period for T2 involved upgrading facilities to meet modern aviation standards and passenger expectations. The terminal’s reopening will distribute passenger loads more effectively across IGIA’s three terminals, potentially reducing congestion during peak travel periods.
The renovation reflects broader infrastructure modernization efforts across Indian airports as the country positions itself as a major global aviation market. The enhanced capacity supports government initiatives to expand connectivity and accommodate growing passenger volumes driven by economic development and increased travel demand.
