India is expected to introduce the first air train connecting Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 on one side with Terminal 1 on the other side at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport by the end of 2027.

Delhi International Airport (DIAL) has floated a tender for the construction of an automated passenger transport system (APM) with four stops - T2/3, T1, Aerocity and Cargo City.

The alignment for the 7.7 km route has been provided by GMR-backed DIAL. Once completed, travelers will no longer have to rely on DTC buses to navigate the distance between these two terminals. Bids for the project will be accepted in October and November. The selection of the winning bidder will depend on the costs quoted by various parties, along with their proposals for a revenue-sharing model or requests for viability gap funding.

Sources said that if everything goes smoothly, a contract is expected to be awarded before the end of the fiscal year. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2027, DIAL told the Union aviation ministry.

The tender document states that DIAL plans to implement an elevated and at-grade APM system at Delhi International Airport under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) model. The APM system is designed to provide reliable, fast and seamless connectivity between T1 and T3/2, covering a route length of approximately 7.7 km via Aerocity and Cargo City. Besides improving inter-terminal connectivity, the APM system is aimed at improving passenger convenience, increasing the Airport Service Quality (ASQ) score and reducing the carbon footprint.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation under the Modi 2.0 government has indicated that it will not impose any development costs to fund this project until the project is operational.

While the exact cost of the train has not yet been finalised, sources suggest it could be below Rs 20 billion, pending evaluation and bids from bidders. The government had earlier directed DIAL to scrap the proposal for six stops, citing concerns that it would lead to longer travel times between T1 and T2/3. A senior government official had noted last November that DIAL’s model, which included multiple stops, would not only increase travel time but would also require stringent security measures at non-terminal stops.