Categories: Travel

Delhi Airport’s re-carpeted Runway 10/28 to become operational soon, ET TravelWorld

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), led by GMR, has successfully concluded the physical construction and refurbishment of Runway 28/10 (RWY 10/28), also known as the second runway. While the technical integration is underway, unforeseen technical issues have caused a slight delay in its operational readiness. The completion is now anticipated within the next 8 to 10 days, as DIAL collaborates closely with partner Honeywell to expedite the final processes.

The physical construction and refurbishment of Runway 28/10 have been successfully completed. However, due to unforeseen technical issues, the operational readiness, initially set for January 19, has been slightly delayed. The ongoing collaboration with Honeywell aims to resolve these issues promptly.

CAT III Compliant Fourth Runway
The newly constructed fourth runway at Delhi Airport is set to achieve CAT III compliance on January 26, contributing to a total of three CAT III-compliant runways. This compliance enhances the airport’s operational capabilities, especially during adverse weather conditions.

Post the rehabilitation work, Delhi Airport is gearing up for future-ready operations with an increased passenger handling capacity of 100 million passengers per annum (MPPA) across its three terminals. The airside capacity is also set to elevate, enabling the handling of 140 MPPA.

According to the Civil Aviation Minister, the authorities were compelled to enforce a shutdown of operations for some time even on CAT-III runways. The decision was taken keeping passenger safety in mind, which remains the foremost priority for all in the aviation ecosystem, he added. CAT III runways cannot handle zero-visibility operations.

The re-carpeting project, initiated in September 2023, focused on the 3,813 meters long and 45 meters wide second runway. The comprehensive process included milling the entire length of the runway and overlaying it with Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB). PMB enhances the mechanical properties of bitumen, making it resilient against heavy-duty traffic and extreme weather conditions.Once the integration is complete, Delhi Airport will be equipped to undertake operations with its full capacity, ensuring efficient passenger handling and airside operations. The enhancements align with the airport’s vision for future growth and technological resilience.