Ahmedabad: After months of complaints over long vehicle queues and chaotic traffic movement outside Terminal 2, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport has overhauled its entry and exit system to ease congestion during peak hours. Airport authorities have expanded the number of exit gates at T2 from four to 10, including a dedicated VIP exit, while entry gates have increased from three to eight.Officials said the upgraded system has been operational for nearly a month and is already reducing bottlenecks outside the terminal.The move comes as passenger traffic and vehicle movement at the airport continue to rise, especially during morning departure hours and late-night international arrivals. Airport officials estimate that around 5,000 to 5,500 vehicles — including private cars, taxis and app-based cabs — now move through T2 every day.Traffic pressure increased further after Air India shifted all its domestic and international operations to Terminal 2.Congestion outside the terminal became a major concern last year, with flyers frequently complaining about vehicles getting stuck near toll booths and exit lanes for long periods.Under the airport’s parking policy, vehicles exiting the terminal within eight minutes of entry are not charged any fee for passenger pickup or drop-off. However, motorists earlier often exceeded the free-exit limit because of slow-moving traffic and limited exit points, forcing many to pay parking charges despite short visits.Passengers also raised concerns over inadequate lane segregation, mixed movement of taxis and private vehicles, and limited operational toll booths.Airport officials said the expanded gate system has substantially improved turnaround time. According to an internal assessment, vehicles now take around five minutes on average to exit the terminal, even during rush hours, helping most drivers stay within the free-exit window.Officials added that the redesign is also expected to improve movement of commercial transport operators and reduce traffic spillover during high-density flight schedules.
