New Delhi, February 13, 2024, Ruchita Bhatt: After facing one of the foggiest winters in recent memory, Delhi Airport’s crucial CAT III B runway 28/10 has finally resumed operations as of February 3, following a delay of over a month. The runway underwent re-carpeting starting last September after the conclusion of the G20 Summit, with an expected completion date of late December. However, various challenges, including pollution-related halts and electrical lighting issues, prolonged the process amidst what turned out to be an exceptionally foggy winter, resulting in significant flight disruptions and diversions at India’s busiest aviation hub.
Delhi World Airport Limited (DIAL), led by GMR, announced the completion of the re-carpeting and refurbishment work on runway 10/28. “The runway has been handed over to Air Traffic Control (ATC) for commercial operations from February 3, 2024. DIAL had undertaken the much-needed re-carpeting work of the 3,813-meter-long and 45-meter-wide runway immediately after the conclusion of the historic G20 Summit,” stated DIAL in an official statement.
“The re-carpeting work was completed in December 2023, following which the operationalization of Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) was undertaken. DIAL also carried out the rehabilitation work of runway 10/28 to enhance passenger experience, including the induction of a few additional taxiways. With the completion of rehabilitation work, Delhi Airport is now future-ready for challenging operations with its full capacity,” the statement added.
DIAL further stated that the capacity of IGIA terminals would increase to 10 crore passengers per year (CPA), and the airside capacity would be improved to handle 14 CPA. Delhi Airport boasts four runways and three terminals.
DIAL’s re-carpeting efforts included milling the entire length of the runway and resurfacing it with Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB). PMB, a bitumen blend with polymer additives, enhances the mechanical properties of the material, making it durable against heavy traffic and adverse weather conditions.
The completion of the runway refurbishment marks a significant milestone for Delhi Airport, paving the way for smoother and more efficient operations amidst challenging weather conditions and increasing air traffic demands.
