If any big foreign leader comes to Delhi, just turn to the news channels. There is only one line running everywhere that “The President has reached Palam.” The question that immediately arises in the minds of people is that the international airport is Indira Gandhi International, which has a high-tech terminal like T3, then why the super VVIPs of the world do not land there. After all, why is their path different?
The answer to this is very simple. Today Palam is not just an “old name” but has become the safest, most secret airport of the country and built only for special guests. This place operates completely different from the world of ordinary travelers. Delhi’s airport complex is divided into two parts, and this is the biggest key to this secret.
IGI for common people
The first part is Indira Gandhi International Airport. This is the place where we all cut the lines at T1, T2, T3 and catch our flights. Crowd, boarding, checking, immigration, everything.
On the other side is Palam Technical Area, whose official name is Air Force Station Palam. Forget about common passengers, even any commercial flight is not allowed to enter here. This entire area is reserved only for the President of India, Vice President, Prime Minister and heads of state of the world. The rules that follow here are completely different from the world of IGI.
These things make Palam so special
Palam was made the VVIP gateway because it has such a setup of both security and convenience which is not possible in IGI.
Here a separate runway is reserved 24×7 only for special flights.
There is a VIP terminal of the Air Force from where the leaders directly reach the convoy.
There is no line, no immigration, no customs here. Get off the plane and go straight into the car.
Here SPG, NSG, Air Force Guard and anti aircraft systems are always active.
There are separate parking and hangars for special planes of big heads of state like Air Force One, IL 96 and VVIP Boeing 777.
Simply put, Palam is a place where there is no compromise in security. The world’s top leaders need a controlled and completely safe environment, away from the crowd. That setup is not possible in IGI.
Example
Putin’s IL 96 → Palam.
Biden’s Air Force One → Palam.
Prime Minister Modi’s VVIP Boeing 777 → Palam.
We all have Indigo, Air India → IGI’s T3.
Why is the name Palam still spoken?
Old people know that before 1962 the entire airport was called Palam Airport. Later the International Terminal got a new name, Indira Gandhi International. But the Air Force part is still officially “Air Force Station Palam”. This is the reason why news channels even today say, “The President has reached Palam”, because he actually lands in the Palam area itself.
