The Hindu : New Delhi News : Delhi airport opens rapid exit taxiway

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Saturday, Jul 29, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

Delhi airport opens rapid exit taxiway

Staff Reporter

This would increase the handling capacity of the airport to as many as 40 to 45 planes per hour

NEW DELHI: In an attempt to reduce traffic in the skies at the domestic airport here, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) formally opened a rapid exit taxiway and a portion of a parallel taxiway on Thursday. These taxiways will go a long way in ensuring that there are more aircraft movements per hour.

In line with a recommendation made by the Roy Paul Committee, these taxiways have been under construction for some time now. "These development measures are in continuation to the recent opening up of a second runway at the airport for three hours each in the morning and in the afternoon. These taxiways will further improve the handling capacity of the aircraft operations, especially in the domestic sector during peak hours," said an airport official.

Part of plans to solve problems of air traffic considerably, officials say the taxiways being built will increase the handling capacity of the airport to as many as 40 to 45 planes per hour. "That will also reduce the amount of fuel airlines burn waiting for their turn to land, which will be a huge saving for the airlines. Air traffic controllers have been also being trained by Australian experts in simultaneous use of both runways," said an official.

With the runway occupancy time for an aircraft at Delhi airport these days also longer than necessary due to lack of rapid exit taxiways, building these taxiways will help ease that burden.

Apart from the taxiways, DIAL has also taken steps to improve security measures at the airport. Orders have been placed for seven X-ray machines so that passengers move out faster. Three machines have been installed and the other four will be installed during the second week of August.

Amenities in the area of toilets, better seating facilities, mechanised cleaning including sweeping the airside and city side, better flooring and lighting and improving the façade have also been taken up.

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