Ahmedabad: To accommodate a significant capacity expansion ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the GujSAIL terminal at SVPI Airport is scheduled for relocation. Sources said the proposed new location is directly opposite Terminal 1 (T1), at the site currently housing a state-operated terminal, with the process now in the final stages of approval. Another site proposed was the GSEC terminal in Meghaninagar, according to sources privy to the development; however, it is not being considered actively.The Airports Authority of India (AAI) earmarked the land and granted in-principle approval, while detailed coordination between the airport operator and state authorities is underway. The relocation is part of a larger plan to create space for a new integrated terminal building (NITB) to ease congestion and enhance passenger handling capacity at Gujarat’s busiest airport.People familiar with the development said the expansion is being fast-tracked to align with the infrastructure timelines required for hosting large international events. In mid-July, the SVPI airport operator also moved proposals to relocate the air traffic control (ATC) building and the general aviation terminal, as its current location limits the scope for a single, contiguous terminal complex. The NITB is expected to integrate a single terminal for domestic and international operations, thus reducing aircraft turnaround time, and improve passenger flow through enhanced check-in areas, additional security lanes, aerobridges, and expanded retail and lounge spaces.Sources said the NITB is projected to nearly double the airport’s annual handling capacity to 2 crore passengers over the next decade, compared with 1.2 crore in FY25. Once the new terminal becomes operational, the existing GujSAIL structure will be dismantled, freeing up land for further airside and terminal expansion.Officials added the phased redevelopment is designed to minimise disruption to ongoing operations. “The aim is to build capacity ahead of demand so that SVPI can function as a global gateway when international sporting events bring in large volumes of travellers,” a source said.
