Congratulations once again to Delhi International Airport Limited for making the country proud. The new IGIA terminal is a clear indicator that India is capable enough to create world class infrastructure.

When the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh dedicated to the nation the Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi on July 3, he signalled the landing of India on the world aviation map. The swanky terminal built in a record time of 37 months at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore is not just a milestone for the Indian aviation industry, but a clear indicator of India’s capabilities in creating world class infrastructure.

While the Prime Minister pointed out that the project exemplified India’s resolve to bridge and bridge fast enough the infrastructure deficit in the country, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel had a ready response – 35 non-metro airports would be upgraded in a public-private partnership model by 2011. The Chennai and Mumbai airport upgradation programmes were on course and these developments were setting the tone for India’s transformation, he pointed out.

Considering the fact that India is soon moving towards the top five aviation markets in the world, from its present position of ninth, the new terminal and other airports (Hyderabad and Bengaluru are fine examples of Greenfield airport developments on a global scale) will herald that. It is estimated that India’s aviation sector has the potential to absorb up to US $ 120 billion of investment by the year 2020 and accordingly the government has launched a modernisation and capacity expansion programme of major airports which, it is believed, will have a cascading benefit for the Indian economy.