its cost around  Rs. 12500 corers. 

The day will also be marked by the first flight of Air India docking at the plush Terminal-3 or T-3. The flight, AI-102, would fly in direct from New York, park at T-3 and later take off from there.

There are unconfirmed reports about UAE carrier Emirates Airlines flying in the super-jumbo Airbus A-380 to this terminal later this month as a symbolic gesture. When asked, GMR Airports chief Kiran Grandhi said the airline has not yet formally informed the authorities about their plans.

The T-3 would start handling domestic operations from July 30-31 after Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines shift out of Terminals 1-A and 1-D, airport officials said.

While the low-cost arms of these full-service carriers would function from T-3, their competing airlines like IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir would continue to run their operations from the existing Terminal 1-D, they said.

Spread over four kilometres, 80 per cent of T3 is made of glass supported by metal frames. The nine-level terminal building would be used for 90 per cent of the entire passenger movement at the IGI Airport.

Comfortable lounges, nap and shower rooms will add to passenger comfort in the airport which will have a mix of restaurants, bars, cafes and fast food outlets in around 20,000 sq mt of commercial space.

Besides three functional runways, T3 would have, among other things, 168 check-in counters, 78 aerobridges (there are 64 in Singapore), other than 97 travelators and a multi-level air-conditioned car park to accommodate 4,300 cars, both first in India. There is a 100-room transit hotel and business loungeinside the terminal itself.

Around 800 Flight Information Display Systems have been used for live flight information and 8,000 speakers installed for public address system.

Most modern technology has been put to use for check-in process and baggage retrieval at the new terminal, which can handle 12,800 bags in an hour. Common User Passenger Processing System and an advanced 5 level in-line Baggage Handling System with explosive detection technology would be operational to ensure quicker processing and higher security.

Besides 95 immigration counters, the airport boasts of numerous escalators and walkalators, including one claiming to be the longest in Asia at 118 metres. About 3000 security cameras have been installed to keep an eye on every corner of the airport premises.

Almost 20,000 square metres of retail area offers duty free stores, set up by the famous Irish duty-free chain Aer Rianta International.

Passengers would get an experience of a huge mall inside the terminal itself with all top brands ranging from Gucci and Versace to L'Oreal and Dior having their outlets selling items ranging from apparel, cosmetics, perfumes, jewellery, watches to tobacco and liquor.

Famous food and beverage brands like Pizza Hut, KFC, Costa Coffee, Copper Chimney, Flavours, Cafe Ritazza and The Food Village are also opening their shops at both domestic and international areas of the terminal building.

The high speed Metro train, connecting T-3 to the city centre, would allow passengers to check in their luggage at the city station and bring them straight below the airport terminal with boarding cards in hand. All they will have to do then would be to proceed for security clearance.

T-3 will be one of the few green airports in the world, having eco-friendly features like energy-efficient buildings, high-performance air-conditioning, use of municipal waste to generate electricity, rain water harvesting, waste-water treatment and reuse of treated water.

Designed as per the Indian Green Building Council's rating system, T-3 will have a high level of green cover with landscaping of 70 acres outside and 10,000 square metres inside the building.

Numerous varieties of plants, trees and shrubs are being planted. While most of the plants are indigenous, few exotic varieties of orchids have been sourced from Thailand and Mexico.

By the end of landscaping work, over nine lakh trees and plants will be planted and a large number of water fountains with soothing lighting work will be set up.

My colllection - Delhi IGI T3 Airport pictures

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