Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the swank new T3 Terminal at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of the largest airport terminals in the world that will be an integrated facility for both international and domestic flights.

The terminal will be opened for international operations from July 14 and for domestic operations from July 31.

"This airport terminal establishes new global bench marks. It also exemplifies our country’s resolve to bridge and bridge fast enough the infrastructure deficit in our country," Dr Singh said on the occasion at which ruling United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi was also present.

He said he was particularly happy and proud about the fact that the project had been completed in a record time of just 37 months.

He said the project also showed the success of the public-private partnership (PPP) model in execution of large infrastructure projects and proved sceptics wrong.

"It also proves our capacity to coordinate across agencies and governments and work as a united team," he said.

Dr Singh noted that more than 58 departments of government were involved in the construction of the terminal, apart from other stakeholders such as ground handling agencies and airlines.

In this context, he congratulated Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, GMR Group Chairman G M Rao, Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar, Civil Aviation Secretary M Madhavan Nambiar and all other agencies and individuals asociated with the project.

The Prime Minister said the aviation sector was vital to India's sustained economic growth, playing as it did a major role in generating tourist flow, accelerating industrial development, creating new jobs and integrating the country.

He said that, in a span of a few years, India had become the 9th largest aviation market in the world. The country now had 10 scheduled airlines, compared to two in 1990. In this period, the number of aircraft deployed by these carriers had gone up from about 100 to about 400.

Dr Singh said it was estimated that India's aviation sector had the potential to absorb upto $ 120 billion of investment by the year 2020.

Inside the new T3 Terminal at Delhi Airport.

He said analysts had predicted that domestic traffic could reach 160 to 180 million and international traffic in excess of 50 million by the year 2020.

"India also occupies an important geographical place in the air route structure of the world. Many key international air traffic services cross the air space in which India is responsible for providing air traffic services. Hub traffic out of Delhi and Mumbai will increase particularly in the coming years," he said.

Dr Singh said an airport was often the first introduction to a country. "A good airport would signal the arrival of new India, committed to join the ranks of modern, industrialized nations of the world. We should have airports that are receptive to the comfort of passengers even as they meet the highest standards of efficiency and safety. They should employ the most modern of technologies but also exude cultural warmth," he said.

The Prime Minister said the Government had launched a modernization and capacity expansion programme for major airports some years back.

"Today we see one of the successes of that creative initiative. The commissioning of this terminal will be a significant step forward in developing Delhi as a vital hub. It will encourage feeder traffic from the non-metro airports being developed by the Airports Authority of India," he said.

He said there was a need to create safe, secure, efficient and environment friendly systems conducive to healthy growth of the civil aviation sector.

"Our regulatory and policy framework also needs to be aligned with the needs of the civil aviation industry to encourage serious investment in this vital sector. Our government is working to achieve these goals," he said.

He said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is being strengthened. The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority has been set up as a regulator for the airport sector for monitoring issues like airport charges and service standards.

Inside the new T3 Terminal at Delhi Airport.

"We have made considerable progress in this regard. To give an example, the Delhi airport has improved its rank sharply in terms of Air Service Quality (ASQ) performance, from 101 in 2007 to 21 in 2010. After the opening of this new terminal we are hopeful that the airport will shortly rank within the first 10 airports of the world," he said.

He expressed happiness about the emphasis laid on developing green areas around the airport. He also noted that the terminal would use very high quality security systems.

"These will be a source of great comfort to airlines and the travelling passengers. I would suggest that all concerned agencies should now focus on improving passenger connectivity between the city and the airport to fully leverage the immense potential of this new terminal," he said.

Dr Singh emphasised the need for the country to rapidly improve its physical infrastructure. "This is one area where we have been lagging behind but I am confident that in the time to come we will achieve much more than in the past. I hope to see many such successful projects in the future. This will be in keeping with our ambition, our aspirations and our new found confidence in recent years," he added.

The new terminal is part of the project for the modernisation and upgradation of the Delhi airport awarded to Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), a joint venture company formed by the Bangalore-based GMR Group, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Fraport and Malaysian Airport Holdings.

T3 will have an initial capacity of 34 million passengers per annum. It has eight levels, 28 metres above the ground level with a built-up area of 5.5 million sq ft and an apron area of 6.3 million sq ft.

The common check-in concourse has 168 check-in counters and 24 remove check-in counters. The terminal has a modern five-level in-line baggage system for faster processing. The separate screening of baggage at the entry of the terminal has been dispensed with and it will now take place at the check-in counters. There will be 98 immigration counters for international passengers.

The terminal has 78 aero bridges, the largest number of a single terminal anwhere in the world. It also has a 100-room transit hotel.

An official press release said the terminal had been built to provide the highest service level so that the least possible time is taken in all processing areas - main entrance gates, check-in counters, baggage screening, immigration and security - so that the passengers have a good experience.

The terminal will have a multi-level car parking facility, the largest in India with space for 4300 cars and automated operations.

A modern Airport Operations Control Centre (AOCC) alongwith Security Operations Control Centre (SOCC) has been established in front of the terminal. There will be 3000 closed circuit television sets and 352 screening machines at the airport.

The terminal will have an 8-lane road connectivity with the National Highway (NH-8) passing nearby. It will also have an underground station of the Delhi Metro. The journey from New Delhi Railway Station to the airport is expected to take 18 minutes.

The release said the entire terminal had been built in a record time of just 37 months against the 60-72 months taken in different airports in the world, creating a global benchmark.

The airport will have natural lighting facilities, recycling of water through a 10 MLD sewerage treatment plant with zero discharge and 310 rain harvesting pits.

Inside the new T3 Terminal at Delhi Airport.

The airport village opposite the terminal will have a large number of food and retail outlets for the convenience of the large number of people who will come to receive and see off passengers. The terminal itself will have about 30 food and beverage ad retail outlets, with international brands and high class duty gree facilities. There will be several lounges for various categories of passengers.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has been monitoring the project closely in order to ensure that the terminal is ready well in time for the Commonwealth Games that Delhi will host in October this year.

Trial runs for Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer (ORAT) had started from 1 April, 2010