Hindon Airport Expansion to Strengthen Del-NCR Aviation Hub
Hindon civil terminal in Ghaziabad will add 4 parking bays and its own ATC to increase capacity, serving as a third wing alongside IGIA and the new Noida airport.
Hindon civil terminal is upgrading its infrastructure with more parking bays and a dedicated ATC. The expansion aims to reduce congestion and increase flight capacity for Del-NCR fliers.
Hindon Airport, Ghaziabad, Del-NCR, Civil Aviation Ministry, Indian Air Force, IndiGo, Noida Airport, Aviation Infrastructure, Air Traffic Control, Star Air
The civil terminal at Hindon in Ghaziabad is set for a significant upgrade to maintain its position as a vital third aviation option for passengers in the Delhi-NCR region. This expansion comes as the Noida airport becomes operational, providing the region with two international airports starting Monday.
To resolve long-standing operational hurdles, the local administration and the civil aviation ministry are focusing on increasing parking capacity and establishing independent air traffic control (ATC). Chilaka Mahesh, the director of the Hindon civil terminal, stated on Sunday that the terminal intends to introduce more flights in the second half of the year following the completion of infrastructure work.
By August 15, the terminal building will be expanded by 700 square metres. Furthermore, a deal with the defence ministry will allow for an additional 6,210 sq m of space, increasing the number of parking bays from two to six. This addition of four bays, leased from the Indian Air Force (IAF), will allow the terminal to run consecutive flights without disruption, even if an aircraft faces technical issues.
According to Chilaka Mahesh, the terminal will be capable of managing over 500 passengers and approximately 22 flights per hour once the capacity is increased. Previously, handling 22 flights per day caused cancellations, delays, and congestion due to a reliance on IGI’s ATC, limited parking, and restrictions on evening operations.
The ministry has provided in-principle approval for mixed flight timings, which would allow operations beyond the IAF’s current dawn-to-dusk window. Regarding air traffic management, Hindon will either set up its own ATC or utilize the IAF’s facility staffed by retired IAF officials. A formal presentation regarding these expansion plans is scheduled for Tuesday for officials from the defence and civil aviation ministries.
Internal improvements include increasing the number of check-in counters from nine to 12. Additionally, the vehicle kerb area will be expanded from 3.5m to 8m to alleviate congestion during passenger pick-ups and drop-offs.
In terms of long-term growth, consent has been obtained for 6.8 acres of the 14.8 acres earmarked for expansion, with an estimated cost of ₹70 crore. Land acquisition for this project is expected shortly.
Currently, Hindon supports operations by IndiGo with flights to Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Navi Mumbai, and Varanasi, while Star Air operates flights to Nanded, Kishangarh, and Adampur.
