Delhi Airport to Launch Driverless Inter‑Terminal Train by 2030

Delhi International Airport Limited will roll out a 7.3‑km driverless people‑mover linking Terminal 1 with Terminal 3 by 2030. The system, called an automated people mover (APM), will have six stations: Terminal 1, three in Aerocity, a cargo‑area stop and Terminal 3, which also serves Terminal 2. The track will be elevated for 5.3 km and at grade for the remaining 2 km. A ride between the two main terminals will take about 13 minutes and trains will run every ten minutes. DIAL estimates an initial daily ridership of 55,000, rising to 85,000 as demand grows. The project is budgeted at roughly Rs 3,500 crore, aiming to match global airports that use driverless trains for quick inter‑terminal movement. Stations at Terminal 1, Terminal 3 and one Aerocity stop will be built next to existing Delhi Metro stations, allowing easy transfers. The APM is expected to be free for passengers transferring between terminals, while a fee for other users is yet to be decided. The move is part of IGIA’s Master Plan to 2036, which also envisages raising the airport’s total passenger capacity to 125 million annually, possibly 129 million later. Under the same plan, Terminal 1 capacity will grow to 45 million passengers per year, Terminal 2 stays at 14 million, and Terminal 3’s domestic and international capacities will rise to 27 million and 39 million respectively. A new pier at Terminal 3, costing about Rs 2,500 crore, will increase its piers to five. Additional check‑in counters, security machines and parking stands will be added, raising total parking bays from 230 to about 260. ## Context The APM will cut the current 15‑20 minute road transfer to a 13‑minute train ride, easing congestion especially during peak hours and VIP movements, and aligns the airport with world‑class hubs that rely on fast intra‑airport links.