India to get first elevated cross taxiway: Know about inauguration, routes, purpose, other details

India’s first cross taxiway: India is all set to get the first cross taxiway which will be inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. 

India’s cross taxiway: Inauguration 

India's first elevated cross taxiway to be inaugurated at IGI Airport on July 13

About India's first elevated cross taxiway   

Informing about India's first elevated cross taxiway Eastern Cross Taxiway (ECT) with roads passing below it, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) said, "It will connect the Northern and Southern airfields on the eastern side of the airport and will save around seven to 20 minutes of passengers depending upon factors like directions of aircraft landing."

India's first elevated cross taxiway: Purpose 

The purpose of the Elevated Cross Taxiway is to reduce taxiing distances for aircraft, reduce aircraft emissions and save natural resources such as ATF, and enhance operational efficiency.

The taxiway is expected to optimise taxiing routes and aircraft operations, resulting in a reduction of approximately 55,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum. It will help to achieve a "Net Zero Carbon Emission Airport" by 2030. 

India's first elevated cross taxiway: Functions    

Enhance passenger experience: The ECT will also help enhance the passenger experience, as they will remain inside a plane for a shorter duration after landing or during take-off. The distance that an aircraft needs to cover, after landing on the third runway and going to T1, will be reduced to 2 kms from the present 9 kms.

Handling large aircrafts: The dual-lane elevated Code F taxiways are capable of handling large aircraft and wide-body jets such as A380, 8777, and B747-8. It allows the safe and simultaneous passage of two big aircraft.    

Tech enhancement: The ECT is being constructed as part of expansion works, under which IGI Airport will also get a new fourth runway, a bigger and integrated Terminal 1, a newly expanded T1 apron for aircraft parking, several new taxiways, and landside developments alongside a host of technological enhancements.

Infrastructure development:  It will also enhance the efficiency of the operations. Any infrastructure development is the development of the country.