Get to know GMR Airports better with these interesting facts!

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Get to know GMR Airports better with these interesting facts!

13 November 2020

Airports connect people and connect hearts! As air travel becomes more popular and accessible, airports have become place of greater importance and significance. They are considered as major gateways to know a country or state's cultural, industrial and technological aspects. GMR Airports being one of the leading airport developers in the world, makes sure to develop airports that are simply the best. More than offering just the aesthetic appeal in their services, the focus at GMR led Airports is to provide passengers with an experience which supports and enhances their journey. Here are some unique and interesting facts about GMR Airports.

Innovation that led to Excellence

In May 2006, the management of Delhi Airport's operations were handed over to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a GMR led consortium. Since then the airport has recorded substantial improvement in all aspects ranging from technology, safety and aesthetics. To start with, the modernization of the entire airport including the commissioning of Terminal 3(T3) - India's largest building post-independence, was completed in a record time of 37 months. Based on the foundation of creative ideologies and innovation, DIAL made rapid progress over the years in enhancing Delhi Airport's service quality and customer's experience along with positioning it among the world's best airports. Today, Delhi Airport is the only airport in the country to have 3 runways, including South Asia's longest runway. This has enabled parallel take offs and landing, thus maximising the airport's flight handling capacity. Soon the airport would add another runway making it India's only airport with 4 runways.

Leading with Technological Advancements

When the GMR Hyderabad International Airport was opened in 2008, it ushered in a number of first-of-its-kind technological innovations for the airport sector in the country, including the first ever integrated and centralized Airport Operations Control Center (AOCC) and an array of modern passenger information and display systems. The GMR Hyderabad International Airport is the first Greenfield airport under Public Private Partnership model in the country and this prestigious project of national importance was also the first for the GMR Group that was ushering into aviation segment.

Creating new standards of Safety and Aesthetics

The ATC tower of Delhi Air Traffic Services (DATS) at Delhi Airport is the nation's tallest ATC tower, with a total height of 102 metres. It has enhanced the controller's efficiency as well as the overall security of Delhi Airport. The architectural concept of the tower was inspired from a blooming lotus and carries a unique blend of enhanced technology, highest safety standards and world-class aesthetics. It constantly changes shape as it rises from the ground to a height of 122 metres- being the tallest ATC tower in India. Supported by 32 piles, driven almost 24 meters deep, the foundations are strong enough to carry over 1,500 African Bush Elephants - equivalent to 10,000 tons of weight. The circular top of the tower provides a clear line-of-sight across the airfield allowing for dual independent parallel operations-a first in South Asia. Along with being earthquake proof, the tower is also equipped with Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) that prevents it from swaying in windy conditions by moving in the opposite direction, thus providing a stress-free environment for the controllers.

Digital Solutions for improving Passenger Comfort and Convenience

GMR Hyderabad International Airport is the first airport in India to offer end-to-end E-boarding facility for all domestic flights, offering seamless and fully paperless experience for the passengers (launched on 28th December 2015). Today all the domestic services operating from Hyderabad International Airport is on the e-boarding system, making Hyderabad the only airport in the country to offer 100% 'stamping-free' travel to its domestic passengers. Recently, this indigenously developed digital solution has been rolled out to international flights also. RGIA thus became the first airport in India to do so. This marks a significant milestone in the history of Indian aviation

Maintaining the Ecological Balance

DIAL saves about 25 MLD water by using rainwater harvesting and reusing waste water. It manages the airport's water demand by reusing the treated waste water from state-of-the- art sewage treatment plant, which has been designed for zero discharge. The treatment plant uses a three-layer system, including biological methods, to make waste water almost as clean as potable water.

The reused water, however, is being used in toilets and to water plants. The plant operates 24x7 to treat the waste water generated from IGIA, including pre-treated water from concessioners. Besides, Delhi Airport's dedicated high-tech plant nursery homes more than 1.16 lakh indoor plants, largest among any Indian airports. Spread across a sprawling area of 100,000 sq. ft., the nursery also maintains 60+ air purification plant species.