New Delhi, March 17 (IANS) The main runway at the Indira Gandhi International Airport here will be shut from April 2 to Sep 28 for repairs and maintenance, the civil aviation ministry announced Wednesday.

The authorities aim to raise the quality of the runway, number 28, at the sprawling and the country's busiest airport, before the Commonwealth Games begin Oct 3.

Ministry officials, including Secretary M. Madhavan Nambiar, visited the airport Wednesday and met officials of the Delhi International Airport Ltd, which operates the airport.

'The recarpetting of the runway will start April 2 and will be completed by Sep 28,' the ministry said in a statement. During this time, planes will use the two other runways.

The repair work on the main runway would be carried out in a phased manner to ensure minimum inconvenience to the aircraft, it said.

The main runway was last repaired in 1999. A runway's resurfacing needs to be done every 7 to 10 years depending on usage.

'Due to increase in traffic and heavier aircraft, the runway surface has got distressed and requires rehabilitation,' the ministry said.

The Indira Gandhi International Airport handles around 3.8 million passengers every year.