IGI Airport Terminal 3 — Local services in New Delhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 (T3) is often lauded as one of South Asia’s most modern aviation gateways, and for good reason. Opened in 2010, T3 was conceived to handle the rapid surge of international and domestic traffic in the national capital region. After several visits over the past year, I’ve come to appreciate both its strengths and its few quirks.

Architecture and Design T3’s architectural language is sleek and functional. The soaring steel-and-glass façade admits natural light throughout the day, reducing the need for artificial illumination and imparting a sense of spaciousness. High ceilings, wide corridors, and clear sightlines make navigation intuitive: wayfinding signage is consistently placed, in both English and Hindi, with color-coded bands denoting different zones. However, at peak hours—especially early-morning departures—crowds can obscure some signs, so it helps to arrive early and verify your gate on the digital displays.

Check-in and Security The check-in halls are divided into dedicated islands for various carriers, which streamlines queues and prevents bottlenecks. Self-service kiosks are plentiful, though some remain offline at times, necessitating manual check-in. Security screening is efficient, with multiple lanes processing both domestic and international passengers. Officers are professional and generally courteous, though I have encountered occasional brusqueness during rush periods. The automated tray return systems and biometric gates expedite movement but can malfunction sporadically, so it’s wise to allow extra time at security.

Lounges and Passenger Services T3 offers an array of airline lounges—spanning global alliances like Star Alliance and domestic operators like Air India. These lounges furnish ample seating, complimentary refreshments, high-speed Wi-Fi, and business centers. The Plaza Premium Lounge, in particular, impressed me with its clean shower facilities, diverse food options (including local Indian specialties), and quiet workspaces. For families, the children’s play area near Gate 11 provides a safe, colorful environment to burn off energy before boarding.

Retail and Dining Stretching along the entire departure concourse is a curated selection of retail outlets—duty-free shops featuring international perfumes, electronics, and luxury goods sit alongside Indian handicraft boutiques. The dining portfolio encompasses fast-food chains, café counters, and sit-down restaurants. My personal favorite is “The Spice Route,” which serves north Indian thalis that strike an excellent balance between authenticity and airport-style convenience. Prices, however, tend to be 15–20% higher than city counterparts. Charging stations are interspersed but can be hard to locate in busy seating areas.

Immigration and Baggage Claim Immigration at T3 is largely automated: e-gates for e-passport holders and paper-processing counters for others. During off-peak hours, processing takes under five minutes; peak times can stretch to 20–30 minutes. Baggage claim halls are well-marked with carousels numbered and color-coded by flight origin, with staff available to assist arriving passengers. Luggage trolleys are free, though a refundable deposit system sometimes causes confusion.

Accessibility and Connectivity T3 is exceptionally well connected: a dedicated Delhi Metro line (the Airport Express) links it to New Delhi railway station in roughly 20 minutes. Air India’s frequent shuttle buses and ride-share pick-up points are clearly signposted on the arrivals level. Elevators, ramps, and tactile flooring ensure accessibility for travelers with reduced mobility, and assistance desks are attentive to special-needs requests.

Final Thoughts Overall, IGI Airport’s Terminal 3 offers a high standard of comfort, efficiency, and amenities. While occasional equipment glitches and crowding during peak periods can cause minor inconveniences, its modern infrastructure, varied retail and dining choices, and seamless intermodal connections make T3 a notably...

IGI Airport Terminal 3 (T3) Google Maps Review

Overview Terminal 3 (T3) at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) is widely recognized as one of the largest and most modern airport terminals in the world. It serves both domestic and international flights and has the capacity to handle up to 40million passengers a year. The terminal features eco-friendly architecture, expansive interiors with natural lighting, and a direct connection to the city via the high-speed Airport Express Metro (Orange Line), reaching T3 from downtown Delhi in just 16minutes1.

Google Maps Navigation & Features External Navigation: Google Maps offers accurate driving directions to T3, details of nearby hotels, and the layout of parking and approach roads. Real-time indoor navigation within the terminal is still limited but improving. Facilities Displayed: When searching IGI T3 on Google Maps, users frequently praise the terminal’s clear signage, modern infrastructure, and its cleanliness, but note occasional navigation challenges indoors due to its size3.

User Feedback: What Travelers Are Saying Positive Experiences Clean & Modern Facilities: T3 is consistently noted for its cleanliness, spacious design, and contemporary amenities3. Efficient Check-In & Boarding: The terminal boasts 168 check-in counters, over 78 aerobridges, and efficient boarding processes for most flights. Amenities: Travellers can enjoy world-class lounges (such as Encalm, seating 550+), gourmet dining options, duty-free shopping, electronics stores, and a hotel for long layovers or transit passengers5. Connectivity: Reliable free Wi-Fi and extensive passenger support services are available throughout T37. Accessibility: Premium services include information counters, baggage wrapping, left luggage, medical services, and buggy rides for those with limited mobility.

Negative Experiences Long Queues: Many users complain about long waiting times at security and baggage drop, especially during peak hours9. Staff Support: Some passengers report poor assistance during transfer between terminals, insufficient guidance for international transfers, and frustrating interactions with staff who may not always provide clear instructions9. Crowded During Peak Times: Efficient flow is sometimes compromised by large crowds, especially at entry gates and security checks. Layout can be confusing for first-timers94]. System Glitches: Self check-in baggage drop counters sometimes malfunction, causing added delays and inconvenience[9]. Transit Experience: International transit passengers report inefficiency and confusion, especially regarding whether immigration processing is needed even when changing flights within T3[11].

Amenities & Services Highlight

Notable Recent User Reviews (2024-2025) Many travelers appreciate the spacious seating, clean restrooms, and variety of amenities. Several complaints about slow security checks and disorganized staff, especially for first-time and transferring passengers9[10]. Transfer for senior citizens and families is sometimes difficult, with buggy services not always readily accessible or properly located[9]. The terminal’s design and art are often highlighted as impressive...

Recently I landed up to pick up someone from terminal 3 arrival and was shocked to know we couldn’t take our cars in for a quick pickup using the 5minute stoppage time . We were directed to the parking area to park our vehicle as we were told that road was closed now. We were told we could utilise a free 25minute parking time (same as before). Earlier we used to park our cars some 10minutes away while coordinating with our passenger but this time we had to quickly park the car and walk superfast to the arrival gates and then turn back with them to again take the car out. When you get down the ramp to exit lane (where fast tags also exist) but it does take a bit of time are cars move slowly and there is no way to check whether you have stayed in for 25minutes or more. Anyway this was a domestic arrival and the next day i came for an international arrival and parking made sense. Post parking I waited outside gate 5 arrival. Emirates landed around 0227hrs and my relative who had a u.s passport had to stay in immigrations queue for an hour despite it being a business class q. He came out at 0340hrs. So guys at that time its quite a wait. Anyway I tool a few photos to help out us fellow travellers. So basically best thing is to tell your arrival before hand to find your outside either gate 4,5,6 (6 is better ) You can wait either outside your gate or sit in the eateries next to gate 6. They have a few working heaters around this area which is a nice addition If coming alone with no pickup the meru and mega cab counters are right in front of gate 5 and 6.They are more expensive than uber and ola but they are right outside and cars come in a jiffy. If you prefer an ola or uber you will need to walk right down to the right from gate exit and at the end turn left and straight to the end. If you want the traffic police monitored regular cabs they are right behind pillar 15 outside gate 5&6. Same walk which is about 5-8 minutes is used when we pickup guests now. In front of gate 5 there are two buggies free of cost for senior citizens and ladies with infants. As far as city buses and other buses are concerned you need to move from gate 5 or six and move to the left. Earlier punjab roadways had arranged for their ac coaches which were reasonably priced to pick u up from same area but apparently due political reasons the airport guys moved them to some 2kms away to public transport centre which can be connected with airport free coach near gate 3 or 4. If you have to go to terminal 2 just exit outside gate 6 and turn a slight left and some 100 ft away you can see a covered walkway. Just walk and you will be there in some 5minutes. Toilets are just before this walkway

A few suggestions for the airport management.

1. Do allow cars to pickup their passengers but before that maybe you need to widen the arrival area . After all you have so much space and though a cost the flyover can be widened.
2. If possible and if not a security issue you can perhaps use immigration cameras and duty free area cameras to beam to a few large screens outside so that pickup team can maybe able to see the progress of their arrivals .
3. allow punjab roadways cheaper ac buses a subsidised space to an area close to the other bus pickup and not so far away in public transport centre. Airport is not all about making money.
4. For arrival passengers enable auto connect to wifi if they have connected earlier so that connecting with their...