December 21, 2023: Metro connectivity to the Delhi airport will receive a major boost as the upcoming Silver Line between Tughlaqabad and Aerocity is likely to be extended to Terminal 1, according to media reports. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has submitted a detailed project report (DPR) to the government for clearance for the extension of the metro line. The proposed line is expected to be ready by 2025.
Currently, there are two metro lines that connect to the Indira Gandhi International Airport. One is the Magenta Line, between Botanical Garden and Dabri Mor-Janakpuri South, with a stop at T1 and the other is the Airport Express Line between Shivaji Stadium and Yashobhoomi Dwarka Sector 25 with stations at Aerocity and T3.
The Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) has sought check-in facilities to be provided at the Botanical Garden metro station for passengers flying out of T1. According a TOI report citing sources, DIAL is working with DMRC and a leading Indian airline to create the new check-in facility. At present, only the New Delhi Metro Station has check-in facilities for domestic air travellers.
As mentioned in the report, currently, the Delhi airport has a capacity of 7.4 CPA with the existing T1 (all domestic) accounting for 1.7 crore, T2 (all domestic) for 1.5 crore and T3 (domestic-cum-international) for 4.2 crore, as per report. The airport’s combined capacity may increase to 13.4 CPA in the next six to eight years, making it one of the busiest airports globally. The metro will have to step in to cater to those numbers, considering the traffic congestion on Delhi-NCR roads.
The Silver Metro line is a 24-km metro line connecting Tughlakabad Station with Delhi Aerocity Metro Station on the Delhi Airport Express Line.
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