Airside T1–T3 transfers at Delhi airport await BCAS nod

New Delhi: The airside transfers between Terminal 1 (T1) and Terminal 3 (T3) at Delhi airport — allowing domestic-to-international and international-to-domestic connections without exiting to the city side — are set to begin once final clearance is received from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).After the service becomes operational, electric buses operating at a capped speed of 20 kmph will take average time of 20 minutes for the transfer. At present, passengers use Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses and travel via city roads, often encountering traffic congestion. The airside route runs through restricted airport areas such as runways, taxiways and the tarmac.“A committee comprising officials from the CISF, Customs and other stakeholders already approved the project over a month ago. After the final permission from the BCAS is received, it will take nearly 1.5 months to implement the project. The project will be implemented by CISF and Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the airport operator,” said an official, adding that the procurement process already started.The electric buses will have provisions for passengers to keep their luggage. “If a passenger from Mumbai arrives at Terminal 1’s arrival at IGI Airport and has to catch another flight from Terminal 3, he or she will have to go to the departure area of T1. From there, the passenger will have to go to the bus gate area and will then be dropped at T3. The passenger will again have to go through security checks for his onward journey,” said the official. For availing the service, a passenger will require the boarding pass and identity cards.The official said initially, only those passengers can use the service of airside transfer having the same PNR number for their continuous journey.Meanwhile, an official said Delhi airport’s next 20 years’ master plan is expected to be finalised in two to two-and-a-half months. The master plan will be based on the infrastructure development, airlines data and other aspects.