As part of the $2.5 billion Worldmark Aerocity project, which aims to establish India's first aerotropolis, Aerocity at Indira Gandhi International Airport will unveil India's largest mall by 2027. The mall will span 2.8 million square feet. In the next five years, it is expected to rise eightfold. Read SURFACES REPORTER (SR)’s complete report below:
Aerocity now has 1.5 million square feet of lettable space; by 2029, it wants to expand that amount by 10 million, divided into two stages. Aerocity's global business district will add 6.5 million square feet, making a total leasable space of 18 million square feet, which will house a variety of businesses.
Bharti Realty, entrusted with Aerocity's development by Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), holds the lease, while DIAL's lease covers airport operations, maintaining state ownership.
Multi-billion Dollar Investments- Phases 2 and 3 Blueprint
Bharti Realty's MD and CEO, SK Sayal, declared that Phases 2 and 3 will need an investment of $2.5 billion, which will be paid for with loan and equity. With 3.5 million square feet of leasable area, Phase 2 will bring Worldmark 4, 5, 6, and 7, which includes India's largest mall, measuring 2.8 million square feet—three times larger than Vasant Kunj mall. Phase 2 will begin in the following year and be finished by March 2027.
There will be more than 8,000 spaces available for underground parking. Aerocity now contains 5,000 hotel rooms spread over 11 locations; after Phase 2 is finished, that number will rise to 7,000 rooms spread across 16 hotels, including well-known brands like St Regis and JW Marriott Marquis.
"Retail at Worldmark 2.0 with more than 30 lakh square feet of retail leasing area makes it one of the largest retail destinations in India," said Sayal. Major corporate companies were drawn to Phase 1, and it was during this phase that Brookfield purchased a 51% interest in Bharti's commercial holdings, which included Aerocity Worldmark Phase 1.
Aerocity would have 40 lakh square feet of leasable commercial space in Phase 3 along the Northern Access Road, which connects Terminals 2 and 3 to Mallipalpur. This phase's construction is scheduled to start in 2025 and be finished by 2029.
Post-inauguration Plans
When Aerocity is fully developed, it should be able to house 2 million professionals and draw at least 30 million visitors annually. If IGI continues on its current growth trajectory, it may eventually handle over 100 million people a year. In the process, T2 may be replaced with a much larger T4, bringing the airport's capacity to around 140 million passengers yearly.
In order to meet the needs for transit, DIAL is constructing India's first interstate multi-modal transport hub next to the Aerocity metro station. This hub will integrate the Rapid Rail Transit System station, an interstate bus terminus, and the forthcoming Phase 4 line of Delhi Metro. A station for the automated passenger mover, or air train, will also be located at this centre.
Sayal said that Worldmark Aerocity will be the world's most well-connected global business district with different modes of transport available. Bharti is focusing on building the huge mall, which Sayal hopes will become, by 2027, the biggest indoor entertainment destination in India.
The Union Aviation Ministry and DIAL are currently debating how many stops the proposed air train should make. The ministry wants fewer stops to allow for more effective intra-terminal transfers, while the airport operator supports two air train stations in Aerocity.