A new metro station will soon connect Delhi Airport’s Terminal 1 (T1) with Terminal 3 (T3) under the upcoming Golden Line project, bringing major relief to passengers. Currently, Delhi’s busiest airport has three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—but there is no direct metro connectivity between T1 and T3. While the Magenta Line connects to T1 and the Airport Express Line (Orange Line) links T3, travellers still have to rely on road transport to move between the two terminals.
According to Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO of Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), the new Golden Line is being extended up to Terminal 1 to provide a seamless travel experience. “The Golden Line was earlier supposed to come up only till Aerocity, but now we have convinced the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to extend it up to T1,” Jaipuriar said in an interview with PTI.
He further explained that this new stretch will connect T1 with Aerocity, and from there, passengers can easily reach T3 using the existing Airport Line. This development will act as a significant step towards building an integrated metro network for the airport.
The new integrated metro station at Aerocity will serve as a major hub linking multiple transport systems, including the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and the Automated People Mover (APM). This setup will ensure that passengers can switch between various modes of transport conveniently.
Along with the metro expansion, DIAL is also working on introducing an ‘air train’ system to connect T1, T2, and T3 directly within the airport premises. This Automated People Mover (APM) system is designed to operate both on elevated tracks and ground level. It will make travel between terminals faster and smoother, especially for passengers catching connecting flights.
The air train project will follow a design, build, finance, operate, and transfer (DBFOT) model. Under this plan, a private developer will construct and operate the service for a certain period before transferring it to DIAL.
Currently, passengers moving between T1 and T3 must depend on shuttle buses or taxis, which can take up to 20 minutes depending on traffic. The new system aims to eliminate this delay and make the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) one of the most advanced transport hubs in the country.
The Golden Line, also known as the Tughlakabad–Aerocity corridor, is part of Phase IV of the Delhi Metro expansion. The construction work is already in progress. Once operational, the Golden Line will not only enhance connectivity to the airport but also serve several densely populated areas of South Delhi.
The Aerocity station will be the heart of this new transport setup. Besides connecting the Golden Line and Airport Express Line, it will also link with RRTS corridors that connect Delhi with nearby cities like Gurugram and Alwar. According to DIAL officials, even one of the upcoming APM stations will be situated at Aerocity, making it a multi-modal transport hub.
This integrated design will allow passengers to transfer smoothly between metro lines, rapid transit trains, and the airport air train without stepping out of the complex. The move aligns with the government’s long-term goal of promoting public transport-based travel for sustainable urban development.
Jaipuriar added that this new model will not only reduce congestion at the airport but also improve travel time for both domestic and international passengers. “The idea is to make the entire airport area easily accessible through public transport so that people don’t have to depend on private vehicles,” he said.
The Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), operated by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) — a consortium led by the GMR Group — is the busiest airport in India. It currently has three terminals and four runways, handling over 100 million passengers annually. With the growing number of domestic and international flights, improving terminal connectivity has become a priority.
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The addition of the Golden Line metro station and the proposed air train will help manage the increasing passenger flow. It will also support the airport’s vision to provide world-class infrastructure and enhance its position as a global aviation hub.
The project will benefit not only travellers but also airport employees and visitors who frequently move between terminals. Once completed, passengers landing at any terminal will be able to reach another within minutes, without stepping out of the airport premises.
Delhi’s metro expansion under Phase IV and the Golden Line extension mark a big leap in urban mobility. For flyers, the combination of the metro link and the air train will mean faster transfers, reduced traffic congestion, and greater convenience.
With the construction of this integrated system, Delhi Airport is set to become one of the most connected airports in the world. As DIAL and DMRC continue to work together, the dream of smooth, multi-terminal connectivity is fast turning into reality — offering passengers a modern, efficient, and hassle-free travel experience.
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