The 42 Chinese nationals have been issued temporary work visas, officials said.

While Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) had sought work permits for 200 workers from China for a period of 90 days from the Ministry of Labour, officials said clearance for 160 more are still awaited. DIAL officials said the 42 Chinese nationals will soon be on their way to India.

DIAL is the GMR-led consortium undertaking expansion and modernisation of the Indira Gandhi Airport.

The job of installing these glass curtains on terminal wall needs specific skills, and the work is getting delayed for lack of skilled manpower at present, a senior Civil Aviation Ministry official said. “Since the glass has been imported from China, the manpower would also have to come from there with requisite skills,” the ministry official said.

According to officials, arrival of the Chinese experts would expedite work and the terminal, facing delays, would be ready well in time for the Commonwealth Games next October.

DIAL officials said the installation can be done only by Chinese experts trained in such sophisticated construction; they said the Chinese nationals would also train Indian workers in the installation process and subsequent maintenance of the glass curtain.

The task involves installation of a heavy glass that will make a two-inch thick curtain for the upcoming terminal building. The glass panels have come from China’s Yuanda Aluminum Industry Engineering Company Limited.

“The contract was given after a global bidding process, which involved supply of equipment as well as its installation,” DIAL spokesperson Arun Arora said. “The entire consignment of required glass panels has reached the site.”

The terminal building, scheduled to open for commercial operations next March, is facing delays due to execution of sophisticated works like installation of baggage handling systems, passenger boarding bridges, automatic walkways, and the glass wall on the terminal building.