Yesterday, it was announced that the new International Airport Terminal T3 at Delhi is ready and will be inagurated on Jul 3rd, 2010. The International flight operation starts from mid July and Domestic flights will start from end of July, 2010. This will be the 8th biggest Airport of the World and one of its kind at India. Believe me, its hugh.., I have seen the growth of this Airport from close quarters, as I have lived almost in every corner of this airport now, except one, the South, which has big Farm Houses.. may be Almighty God give me a chance to own one such Farm-House in my Lifetime, who knows...to cover the shortfall,, ahaha.., I will wait for the day..
When I was born, we used to live at Air Force Station, Palam in Air Force Quarters, as my father was employed with Indian Air Force. Our House was touching the east side of the Airport. We used to walk into the Airport freely to look for baggage stickers to be pasted on our NoteBooks. It was a craze in Air Force School to display the red coloured Air India Stickers with Name and Address on our NoteBooks. At those times, there was no security issues, anyone can walk in even upto the Hangars and see the Aircrafts getting repaired. It was Palam Airport at that time and it used to be known as the end of Delhi. Then it starting expanding, first the National Highway moved to new place. I still remember that at one time, Airport authority started charging Rs 5/- for Visitor's entry into the Airport, it later on increased to Rs 50/- and then finally no Visitors was allowed when security issues started increasing. By that time, I moved to Sonepat and Chandigarh for 6 yrs, to take care of my studies and returned back in 1989 to start my career at Micrographics India.
Time just runs at quick pace but when we look back, it seems the past was not far away, we could remember some things very easily and cherish those memories for ever..
Again during 1991-92, I moved to Saudi Arabia for work but returned soon to my Delhi and to Micrographics India, still living at the east end of the Airport.
Ultimately, in 2008, I purchased a small piece of land and constructed a house of my own at New Palam Vihar, Gurgaon. This locality is on the verge of West end the Airport. At that time, Airport Authority had taken possession of land for this new airport and also built a new International Airport nearby. Internally both Domestic and International Airports are linked but still the entry points for both are 8 Km apart.
After, few more years, Dwarka started taking shape at the back side of the airport. At the start, Dwarka took too much time to shape up.. In the early days, people used to call it a concrete jungle with no connectivity and no water, just a hugh chunk of barren land with no signs of any living person moving around. I remember passing through Dwarka many a times and getting lost, just because the Road just ends at any moment into a barren land or a nullah.. But, finally, when things started shaping up, it just mesmerised everyone. People who were sharp enough to sense the Buildup of Dwarka and bought some property during 2002-04, are the lucky ones to own Appartments here. By this time, from nothing, it become the most connected place from any corner of Delhi as well as Gurgaon, from all aspects. It has Metro, it has Big roads, spacious parks, every possible name in case of Schools, all amenities possible and is still growing.. I am also one of the persons, who took a 3BHK Flat in 2003 but somehow still waiting to move in..
From East to West and then in 2007, I moved to the North end of the Airport. I stayed with my extended family in one of my parental property at Palam for few yrs and then few months back, I shifted to a new 2BHK Apartment at Mahaveer Enclave again almost touching the periphery of the Airport.
Now, at Mahaveer Enclave, at the North West corner, waiting to move to Dwarka in next few months at back side of the airport, I have seen the Airport from all possible angles and seen it shaping up to what it is today and surely I aspire to move to the South, if Almighty God puts the same in my Destiny..
Similarly, Delhi is growing and is growing fast, presently it is the Best City to Live at India. It has wide roads, good amount of greenary, Best of education, Good Markets and above all Metro, reaching out to all corners of Delhi and now also to NCR towns. Just 2 days back metro started from Qutub Minar to Gurgaon.. Surely, there is a long way to go but whatever is happenning, is happenning very fast and is happenning for the Good. Commonwealth Games are scheduled for Oct, 2010, which is adding to the beautification and increase in the Infrastructure at Delhi. So, be prepared for the Good Days to come and enjoy the Growth of Delhi, Humaree Delhi..
